September 11, the Popes’ invitation to reconciliation

Andrea De Angelis – Vatican City

Few dates in history have a similar echo. To speak of September 11 is to remind citizens of all nations of the terrorist attack that rewrote the history of the 21st century in a matter of hours. Twenty years have passed since that day, which was also exceptional because of the media coverage that made it possible to follow the various stages of the attack on all continents, which culminated with the collapse of the Twin Towers. There were 2,996 victims, including 19 terrorists from the four suicide attacks. In the week of the 20th anniversary, three victims were identified. A process, that of recognition, which has never ceased for these two decades and that Barbara Sampson, head of the legal department of the City of New York, defined a few days ago as a “sacred obligation”.

The dismay of the Pope “beyond the pain”

On September 11, 2001, the Vatican also received live footage of the terrorist attack. Pope John Paul II was in Castel Gandolfo that day. Joaquín Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See’s Press Office for more than 20 years, warned him. “I called, I spoke to him directly. I told him what was going on. I told him about the terrible images that CNN was broadcasting live,” Pope Wojtyla’s close collaborator said in an interview with Andrea Tornielli at the tenth anniversary of the attack. “The Pope, we read, was deeply moved, saddened. But I remember wondering how such a heinous attack could have happened. His dismay at these images went beyond the pain. Chapel. , which is a short walk from the TV room. He remained in prayer for a long time. He also wanted to contact George Bush, to let him know his closeness, his pain, his prayer. But it was not possible to contact the president, who for security reasons flew into the Air Force One. The Pope therefore decided to send a telegram immediately. And the next morning, he dedicated Mass to the victims of the attack, asking God to give eternal rest to the many victims and courage and comfort to their families. “

The hearing on September 12

Of this Mass celebrated by the victims of the attack, John Paul II spoke during the general audience on Wednesday, September 12, 2001. The Pope defined what happened a few hours earlier as “a dark day in the history of mankind, a terrible affront to the dignity of man. “Then, speaking of an” unprecedented atrocity “, he expressed his spiritual closeness to the families of the dead and wounded, stressing that” even when darkness seems to rule, the believer knows that evil and death do not have the last word. “

Yesterday was a dark day in the history of mankind, a terrible affront to human dignity. Since receiving the news, I have followed the development of the situation with intense participation, raising my urgent prayer to the Lord. How to verify episodes of such savage cruelty? The heart of man is an abyss from which sometimes spring plans of unprecedented atrocity, capable of destroying in a few moments the serene and laborious life of a people. But faith comes out to meet us in these moments when any comment seems out of place. The word of Christ is the only one that can answer the questions that stir in our minds. Even when darkness seems to reign, the believer knows that evil and death do not have the last word. Here Christian hope is founded; here, right now, feeds our prayer-backed confidence. It is with great affection that I address the beloved people of the United States at this hour of anguish and bewilderment, when the courage of so many men and women of good will is being brought to bear. test. In a special way, I embrace the families of the dead and wounded, and I assure them of my spiritual closeness.

Even before the arrival of the Pope in St. Peter’s Square, a speaker announced to the faithful present a special request from John Paul II in what would be an audience marked by the “dramatic events” of the day before. “It is precisely to create an atmosphere of recollection and prayer – were the words that were heard in the square – the Holy Father wants there to be no applause.”

May peace reign in the world

Eleven days later, during his apostolic trip to Armenia and his apostolic visit to Kazakhstan, at the end of the Angelus prayed in Astana, John Paul II launched a vibrant appeal for peace in the world. On this occasion, the Pope asked that the faithful of all religions come together to “cooperate in the construction of a world without violence”, without allowing what happened in the United States to increase divisions, because “religion must never be used as a motive for conflict”.

From this city, of Kazakhstan, an exemplary country of harmony between men and women of various origins and beliefs, I wish to issue an urgent appeal to all, Christians and followers of other religions, to cooperate in the construction of a world without violence. , a world that loves life and grows in justice and solidarity. We must not allow what has happened to aggravate the divisions. Religion should never be used as a source of conflict. From this place, I invite Christians and Muslims to pray intensely to the one and all-powerful God, who created us all, so that the fundamental good of peace may reign in the world. May people everywhere, strengthened by divine wisdom, work for a civilization of love, in which there is no room for hatred, discrimination and violence. With all my heart I beg God to keep the world in peace. Amen.

John Paul II then decided to convene a new Meeting of Religions for Peace in Assisi in January 2002, after the first historic meeting in 1986. In his message of greeting to the Representatives of the different religions of the world, we read:

In times of the most intense fear for the fate of the world, the duty to engage personally in the defense and promotion of the fundamental good of peace is felt most strongly.

The first anniversary

September 11, 2002 fell on a Wednesday. In general audience, John Paul II recalled what had happened twelve months earlier. He did so first of all by entrusting the victims of the attack “to the memory of God”. international law, proclaimed by human conscience and which requires civil coexistence. In what John Paul II called a “very sad anniversary”, a prayer was raised to God that “that love may triumph over hatred and, with the determination of all men of good will, to harmony and solidarity are consolidated in all corners of the earth. ”Already on January 1 of that year, in his message for the World Day of Peace, John Paul II recalled what had happened a few months before and emphasized justice and forgiveness:

What happened recently, with the bloody events we have just remembered, prompted me to pursue a reflection that often springs from the depths of my heart, evoking historical events that have marked my life, especially in the years of my youth. . The untold suffering of peoples and individuals, including many friends and acquaintances, caused by Nazi and Communist totalitarianism, has always deeply challenged me and encouraged my prayer. Several times I have stopped to think about this question: what is the path which leads to the full reestablishment of the moral and social order, so barbarically violated? The conviction that I have come to, reasoning and confronting Biblical Revelation, is that the broken order is not completely restored, except by combining justice and forgiveness. The pillars of true peace are justice and that special form of love that is forgiveness.