1. In his masterpiece, City of God, St. Augustine wrote: “The peace of the celestial city is the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God, and of one another in God. The peace of all things is the tranquility of order. Order is the distribution which allots things equal and unequal, each to its own place.” [Book XIX, Chapter 13]

2. When Pope Leo XIV first appeared on the loggia (balcony) of St. Peter’s Basilica on the evening of 8 May 2025, our newly elected Holy Father spoke of peace and unity, calling us to embrace both in Jesus Christ. During the homily of his inaugural Mass as the successor of Saint Peter, Pope Leo mentioned the call to unity in the Church several times, strongly suggesting this would be a priority for his pontificate. The desire for peace and the call to unity are basic tenets of all religions. Yet, every religion is subject to manipulation by perpetrators of violence and injustice for purposes of doing evil. It is often noted that what is demonic is divisive but what unites us is of the Spirit.

3. Clearly, both those on the so-called “radical right” and those on the so-called “radical left” are capable of manipulating religion in ways that betray authentic faith. Their purposes are far more selfish and self-righteous (ideological) than as holy endeavors of divine will. Before effectively and efficaciously seeking means of peace and unity in far off places—such as the conflict in the Middle East or Eastern Europe—or even trying to deal with the effects of polarization among so many in our own local communities, each of us must look within to discern whether true peace and unity have taken root in one’s own heart, mind, and soul. Unity, of course, is not to be confused with “uniformity.”

4. We must ask ourselves: On whose terms, do we embrace authentic peace and unity? What criteria do we allow or observe to guide or dictate the mind and will? For Catholics, we ground our embrace of peace and unity in Sacred Scripture and Tradition (the Deposit of Faith). Church teaching (in its fullness, not as parsed according to a particular narrative or convenience) and prayerful discernment of God’s will are most readily revealed in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God.

5. War rarely resolves conflict, and the resort to war always leaves a scourge on humanity. It is the poor, vulnerable, and innocent who suffer its consequences. The world recently commemorated the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The effects of that devastation, like those of many wars and destruction, continue to impact individuals, families, communities and nations to this very day. Concerning the threat of nuclear war in our own time, Pope Leo XIV remarked: “In our time of mounting global tensions and conflicts, Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand as symbols of memory that urge us to reject the illusion of security founded on mutually assured destruction. Instead, we must forge a global ethic rooted in justice, fraternity and the common good. It is thus my prayer that this anniversary will serve as an invitation to the international community to renew its commitment to pursuing lasting peace for our whole human family, a peace that is unarmed and disarming.” (6 August 2025 X Post) In his Angelus message on Sunday, 10 August 2025, exhorting “a type of vigilance that Jesus asks of us,” the Holy Father implored: “Sisters and brothers, let us entrust to Mary this desire and responsibility: may she, the Morning Star, help us to be the ‘watchmen’ of mercy and peace in a world marked by many divisions.”

6. All Christians must understand the true nature of the Church and her Mission. The Church, instituted by Jesus, is the People of God and the Body of Christ. Beyond any institution or building, the Church is the community of believers which is missionary by its very nature. The Church’s Mission, instituted by Jesus, is the proclamation of the Good News with a focus on making missionary disciples of people of all nations without exception. At the heart of both Church and Mission is Christ-centered evangelization and catechesis in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to bring about the Kingdom of God, which is the very essence of true peace and authentic unity. To that end, a personal encounter with Jesus is essential to the spiritual life of every baptized Christian. No tenet of Christian faith or Catholic belief will ever make sense apart from an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.

7. In recent years, there has been a great deal of focus in the Church on the concept of “synodality”—cultivating the art of dialogue, listening, understanding, accompaniment, discernment and mutual respect, with the Holy Spirit as the protagonist. Yet, each person can only bring to the table, conversation or process, what he/she has cultivated in his/her own being. Authentic peace involves more than the mere absence of war, and authentic unity must be given more than mere lip service. For there to be authentic peace and unity, we must rise above fear, suspicion, self-centeredness, intimidation, scapegoating, and pride to recognize one another as members of the human family—sisters and brothers to be embraced rather than avoided or excluded as strangers or enemies.

8. Migrants and refugees, for example, should not be mistrusted or feared but embraced and welcomed. It’s true that every nation has the right and responsibility to protect its people and secure its borders from perpetrators of violence, human-trafficking, gangs, illegal drugs, terrorism and other forms of criminal activity. But if we are to work toward true peace and authentic unity, we must rise above the ever-increasing poison and grandstanding of polarization and partisanship to find the proper balance between protecting the innocent while preventing criminals from doing harm. Thus, we must avoid oversimplification of two extremes: On the one hand, the indiscriminate casting of a wide net on men, women, and children, regardless of their status or reasons for migrating from their countries of origin. On the other hand, we should not allow for open borders without proper oversight and resources. To ensure that we do not lose our awareness of the inherent dignity of persons and sacredness of life, whether dealing with migrants, refugees, law enforcement, or those living on the borders, we should keep in mind two key principles of Catholic social teaching. First, “solidarity,” which can be defined as an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies, and second, justice tempered with the sweetness of mercy.

9. As the late Pope Francis pointed out more than once, we are most credible when we are most consistent. The purpose of synodality is to enable us to “co-responsibly” enhance our witness of credibility and consistency with a focus on community, mission, and participation. Pope Leo XIV has already signaled that the implementation phase of the synodal process will proceed as previously announced. What better way for us as Church, People of God, to overcome entrenched differences than through Christ-centered prayer, dialogue, trust, mutual respect, and discernment of the Holy Spirit, all rooted in Scripture, Sacrament, Service, and Tradition! If such witness does not come from us as Catholics, where can the world hope to experience authentic peace and unity to overcome wars, prejudice, genocide, and the many forms of injustice that are ravaging humanity? As reflected in the Church’s long-standing principles of Catholic social teaching, solidarity is essential to establishing true peace and maintaining lasting unity. For Catholics, this solidarity is rooted in our Christ-centered relationship with God and neighbor.

10. Pope Leo XIV has warned of the dangers associated with artificial intelligence (AI), especially regarding fake news, deception, manipulation, and other unethical intentions. How much might this contribute to the inability to authentically comprehend, consider and discuss matters in a basic human way? How might this impact our understanding of the issues related to effective care for creation, protection of the unborn and women, combating racism, eradicating causes of poverty, properly addressing the plight of migrants and refugees, upholding the dignity of marriage and family, and embracing the sacredness of all life? Polarization is an evil that must be overcome, if we are to realize true peace and unity as fellow human beings sharing the same home, namely, planet earth.

11. Care for creation demands that we rise above self-centeredness and reject any semblance of a “throw away” culture. We must strive to embrace the environment and all creatures with a deep sense of appreciation, awe, respect and wonder. All life is sacred, as Pope Francis stated in his 2015 Encyclical, Laudato Si’ (On Care for our Common Home): “Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another.” [LS, 42] It should not be lost on any person of Jewish or Christian faith that the Torah and Bible begin with the story of creation, making clear how God entrusted humanity with the privilege and responsibility of its care.

12. Because all life is sacred, we must always respect human life and dignity. This is why we work for an end to the inhumane practices of abortion, euthanasia and every instance of what Pope Saint John Paul II called “the culture of death.” Even the death penalty, which was tolerated in the past as a deterrent against violent crime and as a means of protecting society at large, must be rejected. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” (CCC #2267)

13. Attention must be given to the degrading effect of the death penalty on society. The taking of life, even by the state, perpetuates a culture of death, reaching into the very fabric of the human conscience. How can families of both victims and perpetrators of violence as well as those who are charged with carrying out acts of capital punishment not be impacted by this scourge of our penal system? Even on death row, the inherent dignity of a person remains. We need only consider Jesus’ words to the thief hanging next to him on the cross, who asked to be remembered: “This day, you will be with me in paradise.”

14. Any credible peace and stable unity—predicated on the principles of accompaniment, dialogue, dignity, encounter, respect, and solidarity—necessarily require that inherent rights be upheld and basic human needs be met. There are certain inalienable rights that must be honored, especially regarding the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized. No person, family, or community can exist without access to clean water, nutritional food, proper housing, medical care, and dignified livelihood. These are not luxuries or negotiables, but essential needs of every human being. Such basics are necessary for all people, regardless of religion or ethnicity, in Gaza, Ukraine or any other region of the world, including local communities and neighborhoods. This is also true for those incarcerated and those being detained solely based on immigration or refugee status. Indiscriminate arrests, unjust detainment, and inhumane treatment are morally unacceptable.

15. Special attention needs to be given to the very young and elderly as well as those who struggle with disability, mental illness, addiction, and/or abuse. Cultivating a culture of life, especially predicated on a consistent life ethic and preferential option for the poor, demands that we advocate for those who are unable to defend themselves. Every life has value and meaning. No human being is beyond the scope of divine mercy, God’s power to save and redeem.

16. The principles of Catholic social teaching also include the Church’s commitment to prayer, advocacy and defense of marriage and family as well as the right of workers and dignity of work. These principles must permeate all aspects of society if we are to enhance an understanding of community and appreciation for belonging as a human family. The home, where family provides the first school of learning, is the first place for love, dialogue, understanding, forgiveness, resolving conflict, and mutual respect.

17. In his address to participants in the 16th annual meeting of the International Catholic Legislators Network, Pope Leo XIV stated: “Authentic human flourishing stems from what the Church calls integral human development, or the full development of a person in all dimensions: physical, social, cultural, moral, and spiritual. This vision for the human person is rooted in natural law, the moral order that God has written on the human heart, whose deeper truths are illuminated by the Gospel of Christ. In this regard, authentic human flourishing is seen when individuals live virtuously, when they live in healthy communities, enjoying not only what they have, what they possess, but also who they are as children of God. It ensures the freedom to seek truth, to worship God and to raise families in peace. It also includes a harmony with creation and a sense of solidarity across social classes and nations.” (The Holy See, 23 August 2025)

18. Dialogue and mutual respect are essential to establishing and maintaining lasting peace and unity. These necessarily require that egos, ideologies, and personal agendas be set aside. For Christians, this means that we be Christ-centered. Obviously, when it comes to politics, economics, and religion, one size does not fit all. Still, even in disagreement, the art of compromise enables individuals to listen and try to understand one another. Ultimately, we should not be striving to win at all costs but to more fully realize the sacred beauty, truth, and goodness within, among, and all around us. As the late Pope Benedict XVI pointed out, the task of Christian discipleship is not so much about possessing truth as allowing oneself to be possessed by truth. Truth, he reminded us, is a person. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

19. Above all is the necessity for prayer, both personal and communal. We must pray without ceasing, surrendering ourselves to God rather than egos, ideologies, or personal agendas. The attainment of authentic, lasting peace and unity rests in our ability and willingness to embrace and cultivate the virtue of humility. It is only by humbling ourselves, as St. Augustine of Hippo discovered and proclaimed, that our hearts find rest in communion with the One who created, saved, and redeemed us. We cannot save ourselves, but we can allow ourselves to be embraced by the saving grace of personal encounter with the person of Jesus Christ, our hope and salvation.

20. The day following his election, Pope Leo addressed the College of Cardinals. Just prior to his written remarks in Italian, he spoke extemporaneously, acknowledging that they had imposed upon him a cross and blessing. In many ways, crosses and blessings go hand in hand. It is rather impossible to carry our crosses without the grace of blessings. Without crosses, we often fail to appreciate or count our blessings. Situating this reflection within the context of this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us consider the words of Pope Leo to the Knights of Columbus during a recent conference. In his address, emphasizing that the Church herself is a sign of hope, he exhorted all its members to be “tangible signs of hope.” In our baptismal call to holiness and mission, may we never shy away from our crosses nor take for granted our blessings in cultivating a lasting culture of peace and unity grounded in hope.

21. May the unity and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ sustain us always, and may the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, guide us on our journey as missionary disciples and pilgrims of hope.

Given at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in Indianapolis on the Memorial of St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, the 28th of August 2025.

Most Reverend Charles C.Thompson
Archbishop of Indianapolis