In a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and read at the opening session, Pope Leo XIV greeted the participants in the inaugural Conference of the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence, promoted by Pax Christi International at the Seraphicum in Rome from 9 to 11 September 2026 on the theme 'Unarmed and Disarming Peace: The Church's Emerging Paradigm Shift to Gospel Nonviolence'. The Pope encouraged them to 'continue the mission of promoting in the world a culture of peace, justice and reconciliation, rooted in the Gospel and witnessed in life' and invited them to 'become builders of “houses of peace”, where one learns to defuse hostility through dialogue, where justice is practised and forgiveness is preserved', entrusting the days of reflection to the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace. The Pope's greetings and blessing were conveyed to the assembly by Msgr Giovanni Ricchiuti, president of Pax Christi Italy; among the speakers was Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, who said that 'nonviolent strategies are not a lack of defence; they are a more effective form of defence'.