‘Against this backdrop, there has been “troubling revival of war as an  instrument of international politics” (ibid.,190). As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “the accumulation of arms strikes many as a paradoxically suitable way of deterring potential adversaries from war. They see it as the most effective means of ensuring peace among nations thus betraying the memory of the twentieth century and the senseless slaughter of millions of human lives. Precisely in these times marked by a “culture of power,” there is a need to cultivate the spirit of Assisi, which entails a rejection of the religious justification of war, a spirit of mediation and dialogue, and contemplative reflection combined with creative action in the service of a future of peace. Yes, peace must once again become the common ideal of all peoples, the guiding star for all our choices, the standard that exposes injustice, and the shared horizon for all. We must rebuild peace everywhere, not prepare for more wars. War can never be waged in the name of God. For us believers, “to fight in the name of religion means attacking religion itself” 2self (Magnifica Humanitas, 223). There is no such thing as a holy war: only peace is holy. That is why the journey begun in Assisi as a shared quest for peace is, first and foremost, the path of prayer. Prayer may seem weak in the face of the powers of the world, but it is the humble strength of believers. Let us turn to God, the giver of peace, that he may touch the hearts of those who seek war and terrorism. Let us not forget that prayer is never in vain.’