Marian Approach to Catholic Peacebuilding in the Himalaya

Abstract

Peacebuilding, a vital component of Catholic social teaching, articulates a comprehensive approach to build justice, peace, and reconciliation by transcending religious and cultural boundaries and focusing on human dignity and the common good. While Catholic peacebuilding has been successfully implemented in regions that are predominately Christian, its approach can be challenged by the cultural and political reality of the Himalaya. This article posits the Virgin Mary as a model and inspiration for Catholic interfaith peacebuilding efforts in the
mountains of South Asia. The article first explains what is meant by Marian peacebuilding and its relevance to a Himalayan context, then explores how Mary is an appropriate model for interfaith engagement, liberation against unjust structures that are the root causes of conflict,
and the protection of human dignity. The discussion concludes with an attempt to offer a Mariological contribution that connects Catholic peacebuilding thought with Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist perspectives.