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The final speaker this afternoon is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Adelaide, Monsignor David Cappo. Appointed a Monsignor in 2002, he spent a decade in the 1970s delivering social welfare programs for the South Australian Government. In 1994, he served on the executive of the National Council for the Commonwealth Government's International Year of the Family and on advisory boards addressing homelessness and poverty. He was later appointed by the South Australian Government to chair the Social Inclusion Board, a major initiative for equality of opportunity and human dignity. Please welcome Monsignor David Cappo. I have heard many words, thoughts, and good ideas today. You have patiently listened to eighteen speeches before mine. As we near the conference's end, it is time for me to be succinct and brief, and I will attempt to be so. I begin by paying special respect to His Holiness Swāmī Maheshwarānanda from Ānandājī, my dear and close friend, who has been the driving force behind this international conference for world peace. He is an example to us all in his passion for peace and his message promoting the sacredness of all life. I thank him for inviting our participation. I ask that you keep in your prayers his disciples worldwide, particularly those in the Indian āshrams I have visited and come to know well—in Jadan, Delhi, Jaipur, Kanchu, and Kailash. These are very important places in India's spiritual life and in the province of Rajasthan. I also thank His Highness the Maharaja of Jodhpur for his hospitality during my visit to Jodhpur and his palace this past January. In this time of war and turmoil, our talking, reflection, and prayer for peace may seem futile. Yet, the words we have heard today are powerful reminders of how crucial this reflection and resolve truly are. We see civil strife and division around us and are acutely aware of the war raging in Iraq, which has caused great anxiety worldwide. I have been preoccupied with questions: Are we to respond to real or perceived threats from others with violence, retribution, or aggression? Have we learned so little from human history? The survival of humanity itself seems under threat. Are we to repeat past mistakes? What can we do? How can we contribute to humanity's good now? We have heard much about how to respond. This is a time to stand together, united as children of the universe's creator, to pray and to encourage our political and diplomatic leaders to search for a pathway to peace, even when that cause seems cast aside. A serious reflection on world history shows that the pathway to lasting peace is one of effective negotiation and dialogue—of patient engagement, listening, and interaction that seeks to touch the hearts of those with whom we speak. I have an alarming fear that many political and diplomatic leaders have a diminished understanding of true dialogue. I wish to reflect with you on the characteristics of authentic dialogue; perhaps we need to remind our leaders. We heard earlier today the words of Pope John Paul II in his prayer for peace. To give substance to my understanding, I draw from the teachings of his predecessor, Pope Paul VI, in his 1964 encyclical Ecclesiam Suam, which contains an important section on dialogue. He named essential characteristics for effective negotiation between peoples and nations. First is clarity of thought and language, a clarity that comes from the heart. It is not about deception or clever ploys to outmaneuver others. It is about truth, clearly spoken and clearly presented. This clarity contains a deep desire to invite the other party to respond within a similar framework of truth. We cannot develop effective dialogue unless, despite our differences, tensions, and animosities, we begin with truth and encourage others to state it. A further characteristic is meekness—an unfashionable word packed with wisdom. Dialogue marked by meekness "is not proud, it is not bitter, it is not offensive, it is not a command, it is not an imposition. It is peaceful. It avoids violent methods. It is patient. It is generous." It is a meekness of heart, a profound humility that purges prejudice and bitterness and truly seeks the common good. Another characteristic is trust. Authentic dialogue seeks to establish an environment of mutual trust—a trust that brings people together in adherence to a good that excludes all self-seeking. When protagonists meet, suspicion often dominates. Yet, a basic working level of trust must be built for effective dialogue. Trust is built through genuine purpose and consistent effort to reach solutions for the common good. As we know, trust is built on personal relationships between people of good will. Finally, dialogue must be marked by prudence—a behavior that seeks to know and understand the sensitivities and practicalities of the other person or nation. This may require us to adapt ourselves and our manner of presentation to better understand those we engage. This characteristic is critical when very different cultures move toward engagement. Therefore, in this time of instability and war, we must plead ever more with our politicians and diplomats for effective negotiation and authentic dialogue between peoples and nations. In 1931, Mahatma Gandhi said, "Nobody has probably drawn up more petitions or espoused more forlorn causes than I, and I have come to the fundamental conclusion that if you want something really important to be done, you must not merely satisfy the reason, you must move the heart also." So, too, must we persevere with patience in the cause for peace, through a dialogue that embraces the hearts of others. Thank you very much. Recording location: Australia, Sydney, World Peace Conference