Respect for other religions and the need for interreligious dialogue has been a consistent message of popes for the past 60 years. Sister Agatha is following the teaching of these popes as she works for peace. Pope St. John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council in 1962, and over four years it resulted in major changes in church doctrine, liturgy and teachings that continue to this day. (Some Vatican resources on the council can be found here and here.) After John XXIII died in June 1963, the council continued meeting under Pope Paul VI and closed in December 1965. One of the 16 documents produced, the Nostra Aetate declaration, called for Jewish-Catholic dialogue and rejected the prejudiced view that Jews were the killers of Jesus. Another, Dignitatis Humanae, proclaimed the right to religious freedom.
Pope St. John Paul II, who became pope in 1978, was a strong advocate for interreligious dialogue and led the Catholic Church in its implementation of both Nostra Aetate and Dignitatis Humanae. In 1986, he brought together for the first time in Catholic Church history representatives of many faiths for an interreligious day of prayer for peace, signaling a new era of dialogue with other faiths. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, convened several meetings with other religious leaders during his papacy, including during his visit to the U.S. in 2008, when he cited the country's history and value of religious freedom.
Pope Francis continued this modern tradition; his emphasis on encounter and dialogue reflected his commitment to outreach to all religions. He declared in 2022 that interreligious dialogue "is a privileged path to the growth of fraternity and peace in our world." Pope Leo XIV declared, at the beginning of his papacy, that "now is the time for dialogue and building bridges" with members of all faiths as we share common challenges.
Women peacemakers have made contributions throughout human history, especially in the modern era, but many of them are not well-known. The following activity will help students learn about women from different faiths who followed the call to end violence and conflict so all God's children can live in peace and flourish.
Peacemakers quilt
To prepare for this activity, you will need a piece of cloth 4 to 5 feet by 6 feet (an old bed sheet can be cut up for this), fabric glue, regular glue, tape or pins, and different colored sheets of construction paper or felt squares, one for each student. Hang the cloth on a wall; glue, pin or tape on the colored construction paper or fabric as if they were blocks on a quilt.
Tell your students they will each be assigned a peacemaker (see names below) who come from different faith traditions.
Each student researches their peacemaker online and types or writes out 2-3 sentences to the top half of an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2-inch sheet of paper to answer:
A. How did the person contribute in specific ways to curbing violence and promoting peace?
B. What is the person's culture and/or religion, if available? What are birth (and death) dates, if available?
Tell them to add a small photo of the peacemaker if possible, or find or draw a symbol for their peacemaker.
(Twenty-three women peacemakers to research: Rigoberta Menchú Tum; Wangari Maathai; Jane Addams; Betty Williams; Mairead Corrigan Maguire; Alva Myrdal; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Leymah Gbowee; Tawakkol Karman; LaDonna Harris; Maryknoll Srs. Giang Nguyen, Sia Temu and Teresa Hougnon; Ursuline Sr. Dianna Ortiz; Medical Mission Sr. Margaret McKenna; Judith Jenya; Chona Ajcot; Ruchama Marton; Shahla Waliey; Holy Union Sr. Sarah Clarke; Sophie Scholl; Malala Yousafzai; Mildred Norman Ryder. You may add others to the list.)
When they are done, help them attach their 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 paper to a "quilt block."
(As they wait their turn to come over to the wall, they can do the "Blessed Are the Peacemakers Word Search"; you can download this for free at https://wordmint.com/public_puzzles/333061.)
After all the students have attached their information, ask them to go over one by one to the "quilt" and read to the class the information on the peacemaker they researched.
What is the impact of seeing all the peacemakers together? What was surprising?
What was interesting about your peacemaker? About any of the other peacemakers?
Which of the peacemakers was most inspiring to you?
Why do we not know more about these peacemakers?
Are there any common aspects of the peacemakers' lives, their beliefs, their attitudes?
What can you do to share some of what you learned through this activity?
For all the peacemakers in our world, we thank you, God. May we be inspired by their courage and goodness; may we follow their examples as we live our daily lives. May peace become more and more possible as we become more and more open to your grace and your call to promote peace in every way we can. In the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.
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