World Day of Prayer for Peace

Every year, January 1 is designated as the World Day of Peace, and the Pope issues a special statement. The title of Pope Benedict’s message for January 1, 2009 is Fighting Povery to Build Peace.

The Pope asks for:

• an “ethical approach to economics on the part of those active in the international market,


• an ethical approach to politics on the part of those in public office, and


• an ethical approach to participation capable of harnessing the contributions of civil society at local and international levels.”