Every year the message of Christmas: "Glory to God in the highest and Peace to people of good will" resounds more forcefully in the hearts of Christians worldwide. It is because situations in many parts of the world point to the contrary, and peace dramatically remains a longed for aspiration in the hearts of people, Christians and non-Christians alike.

Enough to have access to the media to learn of many tragedies and sufferings caused by people against people. And many ask: "Where is enduring peace to be found? Can peace be achieved at all or not? What is the foundation on which to build a peaceful world? Many governments and international organizations laudably enough have been trying to give some answers to these questions and others by trying to bring peoples together to work for peace: Peace among Nations, among different groups or peoples in the same country and even between factions of the same groups of peoples. Indeed there are situations where governments provide or propose solutions to end conflicts within their country or in the region or even in the world at large. A globalization of efforts in this respect should be praised and encouraged. One aspect however in this multiplicity of attempts, political, social, economical and cultural should not be lightly overlooked, that is, the religious and spiritual emphasis on national and international levels towards this end. Given the widely spread apathy and indifference in matters of religion, this seems to be only a wishful thinking. However, all efforts have to start from here with the establishing of interior peace in the hearts of the people. Man has to learn how to live in harmony with himself, with God, with others and with the natural environment. God's dimension in man's life cannot be done away with. God is the Creator of all that is good, of all that is beautiful. God made man in His image and likeness to praise Him day by day for the marvels of wisdom and power in His creation. This is one of the areas where different religions should work together to make their followers understand the religious dimension of man's life and his daily faith response to God's love for him. The dialogue between religious leaders initiated by the Catholic Church and their meetings to pray for peace called by the Pope are concrete steps in this direction.

Once man tries to live according to the dignity given to him by God his creator, he will experience and interior peace, live in harmony with others and thus contribute towards the building up of a society founded on justice, love, solidarity and goodness.

The unique stand of the Catholic Church in the search for lasting peace in the world voiced unceasingly by by the Pope is well known. Unfortunately his repeated appeals fall mostly on deaf ears, something which does not deter him from pursuing in the Church's mission to bring mankind to reconcile with God as a prerequisite for world peace.

On behalf of my clergy and myself, I take this opportunity to wish you all the peace and joy of Christmas and a very happy New Year.

I WISH YOU ALL GOD'S BLESSINGS FOR A HAPPY CHRISTMAS
AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

   Kuwait, 2003                                                 Bishop Francis Micallef OCD