Pope: Peace can only be achieved through reconciliation.

Reconciliation is the theme Benedict touched upon in his Christmas greeting speech to the Roman Curia on Monday, December 21st.

The Pope began by speaking of his trips to Africa and the Holy Land in 2009. He also spoke of the Synod dedicated to the African continent, noting that reconciliation is the contribution that the Church -- without falling into political activism -- can give to the development of society. For the Church, peace can only be attained if interior reconciliation is achieved, and a good example of this was Europe after 1945.

For Africa, this is yet a path to be accomplished; however, it will only come about if there is an interior process, which can then be rendered into good policies. One must go out to meet others first and take on the suffering that is entailed in renouncing to one’s own reason, letting oneself be transformed by Christ and through sincere penance.