Pope Leo XIV in his prayer vigil on April 11, 2026 can be quoted by saying,
“The balance within the human family has been severely destabilized. Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death. Prayer teaches us how to act. In prayer, our limited human possibilities are joined to the infinite possibilities of God. Thoughts, words and deeds then break the demonic cycle of evil and are placed at the service of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom in which there is no sword, no drone, no vengeance, no trivialization of evil, no unjust profit, but only dignity, understanding and forgiveness.”
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What is peace?
Webster’s Dictionary defines peace as a state of tranquility, free of civil disturbance, a state of security and order. Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church tell us, “Respect for and development of human life require peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace can not be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity. Peace is the tranquility of order. Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity.”
What is not peace?
Peace is not exposing children to pornography. The average exposure to pornography is 11 years old, some sources say as young as eight years old. Exposure to porn significantly alters brain development and leads to aggressive behaviors. Exposing children to porn is a war on children.
Peace is not drugs coming across our borders. Twenty seven thousand pounds of fentanyl crossed our border in 2023. Exact numbers are difficult because of the difficulty of detecting the smugglers. Undoubtedly, drugs have been crossing our border at an alarming rate, drugs continue to be a source of destruction of our lives and families.
Peace is not fake media or artificial digital interactions. We are constantly bombarded by social media posts, news commentaries and constant algorithm black holes. Our thoughts and worldviews are incessantly shaped by the hypnotic trance of our little box we carry in our purse or pockets. Billions of dollars are funneled into digital tools, educational technology and energy hogging data centers. Children spend hours on video games, avoiding outside activities and interactions with friends. We jump to conclusions and accuse people of acting like a king or a war monger. We’re faced with the question of what is real or fake, then we fail to take time to dig deeper for truth and truly listen to each other. Fake news and social media is a war on truth.
Peace is not the violent death of a healthy baby in the womb. In fact, according to Mother Teresa, “The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion.” The Guttmacher Institute released new data showing that in 2024 there were 1,038,100 clinician-provided abortions. Abortion is a war on motherhood and the most vulnerable and innocent, a helpless baby. A baby growing in his mother’s body fits all of the scientific criteria of a living human being. A baby only seeks to be loved and cared for, it does not threaten a mother’s life like a house intruder. The truth is there are many resources available for mothers who are expecting an unintended pregnancy. Learn about the clothing, shelter and support at Iowa Pregnancy Support.
“Let us, therefore, unite the moral and spiritual strength of the millions and billions of men and women, young and old, who today choose to believe in peace, caring for the wounds and repairing the damage left behind by the madness of war.” Pope Leo XIV
Patty Alexander lives in Indianola
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