The stalling of the momentum of peace-building in our country justifiably agitates all peace­ loving citizens of Sri Lanka. Together with the sisters and brothers of other religions, we firmly hope all groups involved in the peace talks will utilize the window of hope left open toward resumption of peace talks. Let the people's agonizing problems be their sole concern.

"Many problems darken the horizon of our times," wrote Pope John Paul II in his most recent encyclical letter to Catholics worldwide. The April 17 letter on the Eucharist adds a prophetic counsel relevant to the realities facing us. "We need but think of the urgent need to work for peace, to base relationships between peoples on solid premises of justice and solidarity and to defend human life from conception to its natural end," the Holy Father wrote in paragraph 20 of the Encyclical Letter "Ecc1esia de Eucharistia."

May such total concern for humanity continue to illumine the path of all leaders of our Nation community. May civic society play a supportive role of pathfinder in sustaining the peace momentum with a proactive moral chorus. Such a public peace chorus can help re-enthuse even hesitant dialogue partners as well as all political lobbies that there is no going back. It can also deter the dreams of any saboteurs.

While encouraging Catholics in all such peace endeavors, we also exhort them to pray unrelentingly for the resumption of talks and their culmination in peace for all. We urge all our faithful to pray that -- just as Good Friday led to an Easter dawn - this momentary setback would pave the way for more" solid premises" bringing justice and hope to all communities, whether they be in the north, south, east, west or center of Sri Lanka.

We appeal to all our political leaders on both sides of the divide to return to political negotiation and continue the process until finality is reached whereby all of us could live in this country with equal right and dignity in peace and prosperity.

As we move toward the Marian month of May in this Year of the Rosary, let perseverance in the peace pursuit and total justice for all be the prayer theme in all our homes, churches, chapels and religious houses. May our Catholic community make this Easter Season a time of special prayer for peace.