The Pope's peace and Security Council issued Resolution 1325.

• Author: Adolphe, Jane

INTRODUCTION

Pope John Paul II, the late head of the Holy See, which is the governing organ of Vatican City and the Roman Catholic Church, (1) commenced an important conversation with women on January 1, 1995. On that day, he delivered the annual World Day of Peace message, inviting women "to become teachers of peace with their whole being and in all their actions." (2) This statement, along with many others made by the Pope that year, was directed to women and was about women. (3) The statements did not pass unnoticed in the United Nations system. The Holy See has international legal personality and participates as a Permanent Observer at the United Nations, which means that it may fully participate in meetings despite its inability to vote. (4)

The message initiated a series of addresses emanating from His Holiness, who at that time was preparing his delegation to participate in the United Nations 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. (5) With international attention focused on women, the 1995 papal statement gave an unprecedented depth of insight on the topic of women and peace.

The Beijing Platform for Action, one of the conference documents, addressed the principles pertaining to women and armed conflicts. (6) These principles were, in turn, reaffirmed five years later by two of the principal organs of the United Nations, the General Assembly and the Security Council. In 2000, the General Assembly favorably reviewed the principles at Beijing +5 during the five-year review process. (7) The same year, the Security Council issued Resolution 1325 addressing the unique impact of armed conflict on women and children. (8) It noted the undervalued contributions of women and stressed the need for women's full and equal participation in all phases of the peace process. (9)

The purpose of this Article is to compare and contrast Pope John Paul II's message on women and peace with Security Council Resolution 1325 and a 2002 study prepared by the Secretary-General, entitled Women, Peace and Security ("WPS"). (10) The Article will be divided into three parts. Part I will begin with a case study of what it means to be a woman of peace. Part II will give an overview of the 1995 World Day of Peace message. Part III will discuss Security Council Resolution 1325 ("Resolution 1325," "Resolution") and WPS.

1. PIA CLEMENTI: A WOMAN OF PEACE

   By way of introduction, a Catholic man who was familiar with the writings of Pope John Paul II asked me what I intended to present in this Article. I responded by saying, "Women and Peace: JP II and Security Council Resolution 1325." He recoiled with a grimace on his face. His reaction provoked me to ponder the moment. All three topics--women, peace, and the United Nations--have been featured in Pope John Paul II's writings. I asked myself, if the conference is devoted to the teachings of Pope John Paul II, then what is the reason behind such a reaction? Perhaps, for this person, my statement conjured up images of Jane Fonda. Or perhaps it was the combination, in one phrase, of three painfully soft topics in Republican circles: women, peace, and the United Nations. Such talk could prove to be a death blow for one's credibility as a political conservative.

   So to capture the thought of John Paul II, I want to jump into the topic by giving an example of a woman of peace. Last summer I witnessed such a woman. This is her story.

   Pia Clementi is a wife, a mother of four children, city council member, civil lawyer, canon lawyer, and friend. When her youngest child, Lucia, was born, she gave me the great honor of being Lucia's godmother. Lucia would have been ten years old on August 18, 2006. On July 14, 2006, Lucia's life was cut short. She drowned in a pool accident in Italy. While underwater, her arm became lodged in the opening of the pool that recycles the water. Her oldest brother, Francesco, dove in and transferred air to her through his own lips while others, including Pia, struggled to free her arm. In the end, Pia was at Lucia's side when she slowly slipped away.

   The accident happened on a Friday, and the funeral was scheduled for Tuesday evening. My first glimpse of Pia was when she entered the church in front of the casket. She was leading the way, helping a young woman who was limp with grief and could hardly walk. Through the crowded church, Pia and her family jostled their way to the first pew. None of them showed any emotion. When Pia went up to read the second reading, a woman behind me gasped, realizing that the mother of the dead child was taking the podium. She was obviously surprised by Pia's strength. Pia radiated not just strength but peace. Her voice was clear, calm, and strong. Her peaceful presence endured throughout the funeral and during the procession to the cemetery that followed. Pia returned to the podium two more times during the funeral. She led the prayers of the faithful--which she had composed--reciting them from memory.

   One of her prayers struck me and set the tone for the remainder of a very Christian funeral. She prayed that Lucia would not be treated like a relic. Lucia was alive and, with our Lord, would want the funeral to be carried out with joy. She highlighted Lucia's love of people and music and then thanked Lucia's choir group for participating in the funeral.

   After communion, (11) I turned to greet the family, and Pia immediately put me in the first pew to sit with them. I was upset. Her daughter Federica said, "Jane, dobbiamo stare forti" (Jane, we [meaning the family] have to be strong). I knew these words were Pia's words. Fillipo, the youngest son, held my hand. After communion, the young children from Lucia's class lined up to leave roses on the little, white coffin. Pia had come to my side to indicate that a song had been chosen in English for me. Even when planning the funeral, she had thought of such details. She had thought of others. As she was explaining this, a young boy came forward to leave his rose. His face was streaked with tears and he was shaking uncontrollably, squeezing the red rose with tightly clenched hands. Pia rushed to him, embraced him and spoke to him gently, and then led him slowly toward the coffin with the rose in hand now dangling loosely by his side.

   About fifteen minutes later, she again took the podium along with her two sons to support her daughter, Federica, who read a letter addressed to Lucia, her dead sister. Federica started off strong, but after a few seconds faltered. As if sensing her weakness, the choir burst into joyful song, and the sister took strength from the music that Lucia loved. Federica finished the letter and then rushed to her father and collapsed in his arms. Pia then led the procession out the door to the gravesite in the city's cemetery. She comforted many along the way and thanked others for coming. She was there, continually, from the beginning to the end, for the other.

   This example brings to life the following words of Pope John Paul II from his 1995 World Day of Peace message: "I urge everyone to reflect on the critical importance of the role of women in the family and in society, and to heed the yearning for peace which they express in words and deeds and, at times of greatest tragedy, by the silent eloquence of their grief." (12)

2. WORLD DAY OF PEACE MESSAGE

   The World Day of Peace message ("World Peace Message") of January 1, 1995, addresses all men and women of good will (13) and invites all women to become teachers of peace in both the family and society. (14) With international attention focused on women in preparation for the Beijing Conference on Women, the influence of the papal statements that year cannot be dismissed lightly. The World Peace Message implicitly endorses past initiatives of the United Nations that have authentically promoted women's increased involvement in all sectors of life. Pope John Paul II, however, gives a depth of insight for women's participation not yet fully appreciated by Christians and non-Christians alike. He gave the World Peace Message the title of Women: Teachers of Peace. With this title, four questions come immediately to mind: What is peace? What does it mean to be a teacher of peace? Why does the address specifically speak to women? What exactly are women required to do?

   1. What Is Peace?

      The World Peace Message does not directly treat the question concerning the nature of peace, which is not a trifling matter. It concerns the question of human existence and world order. It is beyond the scope of this Article to review what has been said on the topic. Suffice it to say that, in the field of international diplomacy, peace has been described as a blessing or a gift from God, (15) a spiritual value, (16) a moral value, (17) a universal value, (18) a tranquility of order, (19) and a moral duty and right. (20) Pope John Paul II alludes to the nature of peace when he states: "To educate in the ways of peace means to open minds and hearts to embrace the values ... essential to a peaceful society: truth, justice, love and freedom." (21) By necessary implication, authentic peace is not to be found in the transformation of structures per se but rather in the conversion of hearts.

   2. What Is a Key Condition for Peace?

      In his address, Pope John Paul II speaks of an important condition of peace, namely, living with others in a way that respects the dignity of every human person. In other words, such a condition requires respecting and serving others. He states: "[A]uthentic peace is only possible if the dignity of the human person is promoted at every level of society, and every individual is given the chance to live in accordance with this dignity." (22)

      He clarifies the reference to personhood by highlighting the transcendental value of man: "Any human society, if it is to be well-ordered and productive, must lay down as a foundation this principle, namely, that every human being is a person, that is, his nature is endowed...