Pax Christi USA hosted its triennial National Conference in Detroit, MI, last weekend, on the theme “Reclaiming the Power of Nonviolence in a Broken World.” The Dominican Sisters of Peace and Associates in Mission co-sponsored the event, which included liturgies, workshops, and keynote speakers. A highlight of the weekend was the surprise announcement that Pope Leo XIV had sent his official greeting and apostolic blessing to conference attendees and all members of Pax Christi USA.
A consistent message throughout the weekend was the urgent need—and challenge—of organizing for peace and justice at this time of global political chaos. The opening address was delivered by Dr. Maria Stephan of The Horizons Project, who presented research on the effectiveness of nonviolent tactics for social change and outlined actions that all of us can take right now to resist violations of human rights and aid our neighbors in need. The workshops delved into specific cases, covering the illegal detention of immigrants in the U.S., broken treaties with indigenous nations, the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and Sudan, gun violence and suicide prevention, the abolition of nuclear weapons, and the unethical use of AI by the surveillance state and defense industry.
The need to speak out is especially acute in defense of Palestinian life. Jonathan Kuttab, international human rights lawyer and executive director of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), in the Saturday morning keynote, repeatedly called for the international community to stop the killing of Palestinian people and the starvation campaign in Gaza. He pointed out the failure of churches and many faith-based social justice organizations to speak out against the bombardment and blockade. Kuttab emphasized that the genocide in Gaza is the moral issue of our time, and the U.S. bears direct responsibility for supplying the bombs to carry out mass murder, failing to enforce international law, and allowing the Netanyahu administration to commit war crimes without check.
Every one of us can take action this August, when U.S. elected officials will be on recess, by attending town halls to demand that our representatives call for a ceasefire in Gaza, allow the U.N. to resume provision of food and humanitarian aid, and stop selling weapons to Israel. August also marks the 80th anniversary of the U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Pax Christi USA is providing resources to pray, study, and act for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Lament is an act of resistance, and so is joy. The conference concluded with a prayer action in downtown Detroit with a ritual lamentation of our individual and collective complicity in violent systems—and our cooperation with genocidal regimes—that devastate Earth and the lives of our fellow beings. Even as we confessed our sins, we also rejoiced to be part of a movement committed to following the nonviolent Jesus as missionary disciples and pilgrims of hope.
Sr. Annie Killian, OP, currently serves on the National Council of Pax Christi USA.
Sr. Annie,
Keep up the good work! You are truly a mover and a shaker, and supporting those who are marginalized and oppressed.
Patti Herrick
It was truly a grace to have the Pax Christi USA conference in Detroit! Along with the wonderful speakers, exhibits, workshops, having our new Archbishop Weisenberger celebrate Mass on Sunday, and to have the awesome letter form Pope Leo IVX read aloud, my hope was lifted up! I tool that energy to the demonstration that was held by the Spirit of Detroit statue n the heart of Detroit! Well done Pax Christi well done!