Let this be my greeting at the beginning of the New Year: “Peace be to this house!”  (Pope Francis' Message on 1 January 2019, the World Day of Peace)

On 1 January 2019, Pope Francis welcomed all the participants of the march for Peace in Every Land organized by the Sant'Egidio Community.  "My warmest greetings go especially to all of you, dear Romans and pilgrims here today in Piazza San Pietro, so many!  It looks like a canonization!  And here I wish to express both my appreciation and closeness to the countless initiatives of prayer and commitment for peace held today in every part of the world, promoted by the ecclesial communities.”

Click to view the VIDEO and for more info on Sant'Egidio

"Bringing peace is central to the mission of Christ’s disciples. That peace is offered to all those men and women who long for peace amid the tragedies and violence that mark human history. The “house” of which Jesus speaks is every family, community, country and continent, in all their diversity and history. It is first and foremost each individual person, without distinction or discrimination. But it is also our “common home”: the world in which God has placed us and which we are called to care for and cultivate."   

Click for the entire message of Pope Francis on the 52nd World Day of Peace - 1 January 2019