ABOUT US >> A FAITH BASED ORGANISATION

Pax Christi, founded in 1945 as an international Catholic movement of Catholics in Europe who wanted to promote reconciliation at the end of World War II, has grown into a unique global network working on reconciliation, peace and justice, building bridges with civil society in the secular world as well as with people working for justice and peace in other Churches and Faiths.

As a faith based peace movement Pax Christi’s work is based on a commitment to prayer and spirituality, study, and action for peace. It strives for dialogue and co-operation with non-governmental organisations and movements working in the same field - whether they are Christians from other denominations, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or non-religious groups.

Pax Christi’s strong sense of spirituality is inspired by the original motivation of the movement - reconciliation: bringing opposing parties together to create a new relationship.

One of the characteristics of Pax Christi as an international Catholic Church related peace movement is the collaboration within the movement of lay, religious, bishops and even cardinals. Many bishops, religious and clergy are members of the different member organisations.

It is a movement of shared and common responsibility. Although Pax Christi International movement up till now has always elected a bishop or cardinal as its president, the movement is a non-governmental organisation working independently within and outside the Catholic Church. It is well embedded in the ecumenical world.

Active in the Roman Catholic Church

    • Political Council Justitia et Pax.
       - see further details in English or Spanish or French.

    • Pontifical Council for Promoting of Christian Unity.
       - see further details in English.

    • United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's (USCCB).
       - see further details in English.

    • Symposium of Epicopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
       - see further details in English or French.

    • Commission of the Bishop's Conferences of the European Community (COMECE).
       - see further details in English or French.

    • Council of European Bishop's Conferences (CCEE).
       - see further details in English.

    • Catholic Peacebuilding Network USA.
       - see further details in English.

    • CIDSE = International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity.
       - see further details in English.

    • Caritas Internationalis.
       - see further details in English or Spanish or French.

    • Caritas Europe.
       - see further details in English or French.

    • Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network.
       - see further details in English or French.

    • Regional and National Justice and Peace Commissions.
       - see further details in English.

    • Justice and Peace Promoters of international religious congregations in
        Rome Forum of International Catholic NGO's.
       - see further details in English.

Active at the Ecumenical Level

    • World Council of Churches: Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.
       - see further details in English or Spanish or French or German.

    • World Council of Churches: Decade to Overcome Violence.
       - see further details in English or Spanish or French or German.

    • World Council of Churches: the Palestine & Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) and
        the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI).
       - see further details in English or Spanish or French or German.

    • World Week for Peace Palestine & Israel.
       - see further details in English.

    • Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).
       - see further details in English.

    • Church and Peace.
       - see further details in English or French.

    • International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR).
       - see further details in English or Spanish or French.

Historical Dialogue Processes

    • Russian Orthodox Church (since 1974).
       - see further details in English.

    • Serbian Orthodox Church (since 1990).
       - see further details in English.

Active at the Interfaith Level

    • Religions for Peace.
       - see further details in English.

    • European Council of Religious Leaders.
       - see further details in English.

    • Expert group on Interfaith Dialogue of the European Youth Forum.
       - see further details in English or French.