La Paz, Bolivia, Sep 22, 2008 / 10:45 pm (CNA).- In response to the violence and confrontations that are sweeping across Bolivia, the Apostolic Nuncio to that country, Archbishop Luciano Suriani, has encouraged Bolivians to work for “peace and understanding between all, for the serenity and harmony necessary to building a society worth of mankind.”

Echoing the calls of “the recent popes, who untiringly called the entire world to peace and not violence, to dialogue and not confrontation, to love and not hatred,” the archbishop recalled what Pope Benedict XVI said in his message for the World Day of Peace last year. “All people of good will are a channel of peace,” the Pope said, “a peace that begins in one’s own conscience and is made concrete later in peace in the family and society.”

Archbishop Suriani went on to explain that “peace is a gift and a task,” which must be realized with courage and unflagging commitment.  “By building the peace we put down the premises for an authentic coexistence of brothers among brothers,” he added.

“May we always be sincere and courageous heralds of peace, without forgetting that there is no peace without justice and there is no justice without forgiveness,” the Nuncio said.

He encouraged government leaders to have the wisdom and good will to become “channels of peace no matter what the cost.”

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