Encyclical Letter (Pacem in terris) of His Holiness John XXIII By Divine Providence Pope [antikvár]

To Our Dearest Sons and Brothers, Health and Apostolic Blessing INTRODUCTION Order in the universe Peace on Earth - most ardently in every age all men have 1 longed for it; but there is clearly no way of securing it, no way of guaranteeing it, except by the scrupulous preservation of divinely established order. That a marvellous order predominates in the world of 2 living beings and in the forces of nature, is the plain lesson of progressive modern research and scientific discovery. And it is part of the greatness of man that he can appreciate that order, and devise the means for harnessing those forces for his own benefit. But what emerges first and foremost from the progress 3 of science and the inventions of technology is the infinite greatness of God Himself, who created both man and the universe. Yes; out of nothing He made it, and He filled it with the fulness of His own wisdom and goodness. Hence, these are the words the holy psalmist used in praise of God: 'O Lord, our Lord: how admirable is Thy name in the whole earth!'1 And elsewhere he says: 'How great are Thy works, O Lord! Thou hast made all things in wisdom.'2 Moreover, God created man 'in His own image and likeness,'3 endowed him with intelligence and freedom, and made him lord of creation. All this the psalmist proclaims when he says: 'Thou hast made him a little less than the angels: Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, and hast set him over 1 Ps. 8 : 1. 2 Ps 103 . 24. 3 Cf. Gen. 1 : 26. 7