Focolare Movement

“War is wide-scale murder”

Dec 31, 2012

Some thoughts from Igino Giordani’s book, ’The Futility of War’

“War is wide-scale murder”.

“Just as the plague spreads the plague, and hunger can lead to starvation, so does war serve to kill”.

“If you want peace, prepare for it”.

“Only crazy people, or the incurable wish for death, and war is death”.

“I believe no head of State has ever admitted he was waging war for motives of plunder; everyone held that it was being fought for the most noble of reasons, for altruistic and idealistic purposes, of course. And – just to show how childish hatred can get – greed is a characteristic of the enemy while a friend shows idealism”.

“Enemies are to be loved: if only the politics of charity were to take root, we would discover that it coincides with the most enlightened rationality and, in the economic and social sense, it would prove to be a real bargain”.

“For Christians to be worthy of being called ‘children of God’ they have to work for peace”.

“We must organize peace as others have organized war”.

“The work of building peace starts from you and from me”.

Igino Giordani, L’inutilità della guerra, published by  Città Nuova, Roma 2003

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

Audience with Pope Leo XIV

Audience with Pope Leo XIV

On Saturday 21 March 2026, participants in the Assembly of the Focolare Movement were received in private audience by Pope Leo XIV. The Pope reaffirmed the essence and fruitfulness of the charism of unity, a gift from God for the Church and for the world, and encouraged everyone to live this post-foundational phase with confidence, transparency and responsibility.

Living the Gospel: “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening” (Lk 24:29)

Living the Gospel: “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening” (Lk 24:29)

How can we recognize the presence of Jesus when faced with darkness, injustices and inequalities? When hardship and suffering seem to obscure all hope? The road to Emmaus becomes a symbol of each person’s journey of faith, of our deep desire to rediscover Christ in everyday choices; an encounter that leads to joy and shared testimony. It is the moving invitation that we can all extend to him so that, once he is found, he remains with us and among us.

Easter: The Foundation of the Great Hope

Easter: The Foundation of the Great Hope

This reflection on the Easter reasons and origins of Christian hope, hope that still “dares” to speak to people today, is offered by Declan J. O’Byrne, theologian and rector of the Sophia University Institute.