About

Our Story

In 1945, a small group of Catholics in France began to meet regularly to pray for peace. They were troubled by the fact that French and German Catholics, who professed the same faith and celebrated the same Eucharist, had killed one another by the thousands during World War II. Knowing that this was not the will of God, they prayed for forgiveness, reconciliation, and the peace of Christ.

This was the birth of Pax Christi, which translated means, “the peace of Christ”. The mission and movement spread throughout Europe in the 1950s and 1960s and in 1972 the U.S Chapter of Pax Christi was founded. For many years the national office was in Erie, Pa. In 2011 the office moved to 415 Michigan Ave. NE. State 240, Washington DC 20017-4503. Today Pax Christi is active in over 30 countries, with a growing presence in Latin America and Africa. Pax Christi also has consultative status as a non-governmental organization in the United Nations.

Pax Christi Florida (PCF) was founded in 1982 by John and Patricia Frank. In 2022 Pax Christi Florida will celebrate 40 years of peacemaking. PCF continues to engage members in prayer, study, and action through annual gatherings, workshops that promote nonviolent living, bi-monthly newsletters, and special alerts. 

John and Martina Linnehan and the Florida Peace Movement Collection

“Cancel the Countdown” protest in Cape Canaveral, January 1987. Just behind the banner is Dr. Benjamin Spock, flanked on either side by John and Martina Linnehan.

Pac Christi Florida Council Members
  • Michael Martin, Coordinator
  • Sandy Baran                     
  • Anne Richter                      
  • Phyllis Jepson                      
  • Barbara Richardson                                
  • Amy Finn Schultz 
  • Patrick Finn Schultz
  • Isaac Chandler               
  • John Frank                                        
Pax Christi Florida

paxchristiflorida@gmail.com