War and Peace
Globally, conflict and violence are on the rise according to the United Nations, which has warned that peace is more under threat around the world than it has been since World War II. Two billion people—a quarter of the entire global population—live in conflict-affected areas. Last year, 84 million people were forcibly displaced because of conflict, violence, and human rights violations, and this year, an estimated 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance due to conflict, according to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
As we contemplate the theme of War and Peace this year, we can be guided by Pope Francis’ words from Against War: Building a Culture of Peace:
And together we must commit ourselves to building a world that is more peaceful because it is more just, where peace triumphs, not the folly of war; justice, not the injustice of war; mutual forgiveness, not the hatred that divides and makes us see an enemy in the other, in those who are different from us.
To this end, we are creating this calendar of events for the 2022 – 23 academic year to invite you to be part of the conversations happening across campus about these critically important issues.
Since its establishment in 2005 by Notre Dame’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., the Notre Dame Forum has invited a campus-wide dialogue about issues of importance to the University, the nation and the larger world, including sustainability and a just transition, challenges and opportunities of globalization, the role of presidential debates, immigration and the place of faith in a pluralistic society. Information on previous forums can be found here.
