By Jenny Cafiso

In the chaos of our world, it can be hard to know how to stand in solidarity with people who are marginalized and suffering.  It is easy to become paralyzed when we see the world as we know it being upended by war, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and massive destruction of entire countries. The mechanisms of coexistence and of solidarity that have guided us in the past have been vilified and made obsolete.

Our response can be guided by two sources. After being attacked publicly for his condemnation of war, Pope Leo XIV responded by reminding us of the message of the Gospel: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).

Speaking to reporters on a flight to Algiers, the Pope invited us to meet the challenges of our time by refusing the sword and acting with mercy. “I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the States to look for just solutions to problems,” he said.

We should also learn from the people who are suffering from war, violence, poverty, and exclusion in many parts of the world.

In South Sudan, where people are victims of a brutal and often unknown war, I met South Sudanese youth who are themselves suffering from the effects of war, but who nonetheless volunteer their time to provide education to displaced children.

When the conflict in the Middle East erupted and spread to include countries such as Lebanon, the team of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) responded immediately. They provided food, water and shelter for those who fled areas affected by the hostilities. They did this, even though many of them had also been displaced from their homes.

They teach us that our response must be guided by focusing on the people who are suffering: the poor and the victims of war or violence. They give us inspiration and courage.

In this issue, Fr. Daniel Mutale, SJ, the Executive Director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) explores what it means to be in solidarity with others (see page 1).

Alejandra Castellanos Breton, Regional Director of JRS Latin America and the Caribbean, a CJI partner, shares the experiences of refugees and migrants who receive psychosocial support and other assistance from JRS (see page 5).

Your support for CJI and its partners offers a lifeline for many. And now more than ever, we cannot afford to be paralyzed.  We must act in solidarity, denounce violence, and be peacemakers.