Rome: In a deeply reflective interview with Vatican Media following his meeting with the Russian Ambassador to the Holy See, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), offered profound insights into Pope Leo XIV’s recent appeal to the Church: to foster peace by turning every community into a “home of peace.” This, Cardinal Zuppi emphasized, is not merely poetic rhetoric but a timely, tangible call to action in a world fractured by war, polarization, and rising indifference.
Referencing the Holy Father's powerful message to the CEI on June 17, Cardinal Zuppi said the Pope’s invitation to develop a pastoral ministry for peace in every diocese is not optional it is an urgent imperative. “This is not a philosophical dialogue among people in comfort,” Zuppi said. “It is a moral responsibility in a world scarred by real and devastating wars, fueled by rearmament and the illusion that violence brings order.”
He stressed that Pope Leo XIV’s language was both concrete and spiritual. The notion of each community being a "home of peace," he explained, goes beyond symbolism it requires real, rooted, daily action. “To be a home of peace is to live peace visibly and communally. It begins with prayer, expands through hospitality, and flourishes in solidarity.”
Cardinal Zuppi cited the CEI’s decision to make Pentecost a national day of prayer for peace as a response to the Pope’s call. “Pentecost brings together nations and tongues under the Holy Spirit the opposite of Babel. It’s the perfect moment to unite our hearts and voices in an appeal for peace,” he said. Alongside prayer, he pointed to the essential roles of welcoming refugees, supporting those displaced by war, and building networks of fraternity. He mentioned how children from war-torn Ukraine were hosted at Vatican summer camps a symbol of hope that also drew personal thanks from President Zelensky.
Beyond action, education emerged as a central theme. “We must fight back against what I call an ‘education to war’ the spread of hatred, violence, and prejudice, even from behind a keyboard. We are raising ‘keyboard warriors’ instead of peacemakers,” he warned. In contrast, he championed “schools of peace” initiatives where children, especially migrants, can learn, connect, and grow together. Language schools in parishes, after-school programs, and community hubs, he said, are the building blocks for an alternative culture rooted in encounter and respect.
He challenged the misconception that the Church’s social teachings and peace efforts distract from the Gospel. “Proclaiming Christ and promoting peace are inseparable. The Gospel lives in history it doesn’t float above it,” Zuppi affirmed. “There’s no separation between the Eucharistic table and the table of the poor, between evangelization and human dignity. They are the two beats of the Church’s heart.”
Turning to the nature of parishes, Cardinal Zuppi acknowledged the evolving reality of faith communities, especially in northern and central Italy. “Gone are the days of the ‘single parish’; today, parishes must collaborate and share,” he said. “But more importantly, parishes must stop being anonymous. They must become real homes not just places, but living communities.”
Reflecting on Pope Leo XIV’s election just two months prior, Zuppi remarked on the mysterious unity that brought 133 cardinals together so swiftly to choose a shepherd. “Even from a secular lens, it’s inexplicable. But for us, we know it’s the Spirit. The best algorithm of all.” He praised the gentle but determined tone of the new papacy and its resonance with the upcoming Holy Year.
“The Jubilee of Hope is a powerful opportunity to reignite our journey as a Church united in faith, service, and peace,” Zuppi said. “We must walk it together with Pope Leo, in friendship, prayer, and obedience. Not selective obedience, but the kind that comes from trust and love.”
With wars raging and division mounting, Pope Leo’s invitation, Cardinal Zuppi concluded, is a prophetic one. “To make our communities true homes of peace that’s how the Church lives the Gospel in the 21st century.”