CSDC 517

The Church teaches that true peace is made possible only through forgiveness and reconciliation.¹⁰⁹² Cf. John Paul II, Message for the 2002 World Day of Peace, 9: AAS 94AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 94 (2002) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (2002), 136-137; John Paul II, Message for the 2004 World Day of Peace, 10: AAS 96AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 96 (2004) at vatican.va — list of its scanned parts (2004), 121. It is not easy to forgive when faced with the consequences of war and conflict because violence, especially when it leads “to the very depths of inhumanity and suffering”,¹⁰⁹³ John Paul II, Letter on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War (27 August 1989), 2: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 4 September 1989, p. 1. leaves behind a heavy burden of pain. This pain can only be eased by a deep, faithful and courageous reflection on the part of all parties, a reflection capable of facing present difficulties with an attitude that has been purified by repentance. The weight of the past, which cannot be forgotten, can be accepted only when mutual forgiveness is offered and received; this is a long and difficult process, but one that is not impossible¹⁰⁹⁴ Cf. John Paul II, Message for the 1997 World Day of Peace, 3 and 4: AAS 89AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 89 (1997) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1997), 193..