These are the words you are looking for us to say,” the Pope said, “and the words we cannot utter without feeling aware of their seriousness and solemnity: never again one against the other, never, never again! Was not this the very end for which the United Nations came into existence: to be against war and for peace?” He added: “Listen to the clear words of a great man who is no longer with us, John Kennedy, who proclaimed…’Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.'”

President Kennedy’s judgment reveals all its tragic realism especially in the dark hour the world is currently experiencing. The crisis of multilateralism and institutions like the UN is plain for all to see. The Third World War, begun in pieces, which Pope Francis began denouncing more than ten years ago, now seems to be approaching in a sinister way. Humanity seems to have lost memory of its recent history. We are overwhelmed by millions of so-called pieces of information in the digital age that make us feel like the most aware generation, yet we are surrounded by fake news, war propaganda, and the undisclosed interests of arms manufacturers and merchants of death.

The fratricidal war in the heart of Christian Europe triggered by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the fratricidal war in the heart of the Holy Land unleashed by the brutal terrorist act of Hamas and now being carried out with unjustified violence by the Israeli army, are just two of the many conflicts being fought in the world — conflicts that remain forgotten, off the radar. The tragedy of Gaza, the detention and killing of hostages, the massacre of civilians — tens of thousands of children, women, and elderly — as well as the many civilian victims of the war in Ukraine, represent a disgrace, a black hole for the moral conscience of the world.

International law and humanitarian law are invoked and then twisted according to the advantage of the strongest. In the face of rulers who speak of war, prepare for war, and invest enormous sums in weapons, the appeal of the Pope from Brescia echoes again today — more perilously relevant than it was sixty years ago. These are words in deep harmony with the sentiments of the people, who continue to be outraged by the daily massacres we witness and hope that diplomacy, negotiation, creativity in dialogue, the ability to pursue new paths of peace — finally find those willing to walk them, rather than surrender to the basest war propaganda.

To proclaim the purpose of the United Nations, Paul VI wanted to “recall that the blood of millions, countless unheard-of sufferings, useless massacres and frightening ruins have sanctioned the agreement that unites you with an oath that ought to change the future history of the world: never again war, never again war! It is peace, peace, that has to guide the destiny of the nations of all mankind!”

Let us not forget it — especially today.