5 euro - Pontificate of Pope Francis

The theme chosen to celebrate the 46th World Day of Peace is “Blessed are the peacemakers”. Excerpts of an address given by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI on 2 January 2013 give a full appreciation for the message marking an occasion for refl ection and prayer. Beginning with the words of Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt 5:9), Benedict XVI affi rmed that everyone is called to work for peace. In contrast to nihilism, he said “Our gaze needs to go deeper, beneath superfi cial appearances and phenomena, to discern a positive reality which exists in human hearts, since every man and woman has been created in the image of God and is called to grow and contribute to the building of a new world”. Peacemakers are aware that around the world basic human freedoms are often compromised, and that in growing sectors of public opinion, the ideologies of radical liberalism are spreading the conviction that economic growth should be pursued even to the detriment of the state’s social responsibilities. Peacemakers are needed who will promote human rights and new models of economic development aimed at supporting the common good. At the same time, peace is to be found not only in our relationships with our neighbors and creation, but also within ourselves. Benedict XVI says: “This calls for a rich interior life, clear and valid moral points of reference, and appropriate attitudes and lifestyles... A fundamental encouragement to this is ‘to say no to revenge, to recognize injustices, to accept apologies without looking for them, and fi nally, to forgive’.” Only with an education for peace can this goal be reached, and pedagogical sciences need to be inspired by this reality. The fi ve euro silver coin depicts Jesus when giving his Sermon on the Mount and preaching the eight beatitudes, which include “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”.