POPE TO NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATES: PEACE IS NOT A DREAM

VATICAN CITY, APR 22, 1999 (VIS) - "Peace is not a dream" were John Paul II's words of welcome to Nobel Peace Prize laureates, received this morning in audience in the Vatican.

The Nobel winners, currently taking part in a series of meetings organized by The Gorbachev Foundation, are: Mikhail Gorbachev, Shimon Peres, Frederik De Klerk, David Trimble, Rigoberta Menchu, Betty Williams and Joseph Rotblat.

In his speech, the Holy Father emphasized that the peace issue is at the heart of political life. "Your meeting," he said, "is taking place at an especially tragic moment for Europe. How can we fail to renew a vigorous appeal for an end to ethnic conflicts in the Balkans and the clash of arms, for a return to dialogue and respect for the dignity of all persons and all communities, in the name of fundamental human rights! Nor can we forget the human tragedies occurring in so many areas of the world, especially in Africa and Asia."

"Coming together as you do from different cultures and nations," continued the Pontiff, "your meeting is a sign that peace can only come about when we move beyond move beyond visions of man and society based on race, religion, nationalism or, more generally, based on the exclusion of others."

Referring to the imminent new millennium, the Pope added: "Humanity needs to be encouraged to advance decisively along the paths of real and lasting peace and to build a civilization based on the desire for a coexistence which respects the diversity of people, their histories, their cultures and their spiritual traditions. Rather than feeding new antagonisms, globalization must lead to a rejection of armed conflict, narrow nationalism and all forms of violence."

"Peace is not a vague idea or a dream; it is a reality which must be painstakingly constructed day after day through the efforts of all."

"Those who seek to be peacemakers should be strongly supported, since their efforts are aimed at creating a better life for everyone, a society in which each person has his or her place and in which all can live in peace and harmony, developing the gifts received from the Creator."

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