Thank you Bishop.  You say," I hope none of us is offended by the reminder that we have to acknowledge our sinful past, and then the mercy of God will be poured forth upon us and we will find a way to peace." On a personal level I don't acknowledge my sinful past, because I know, that the sacrament of penance wipes my slate clean.  If I hung onto my sins, I'd be crippled. And, it would suggest that I had no faith in the sacrament of Penance.  Furthermore,  because of our humanness and even tho' we're made in God's image, we all sin. And, daily...and often many times a day...our sinfulness is forever.  Now, I understand why we should never forget our sinfullness on a grand scale, my heart grieves something awlfal for all people inflicted and affected by war.  And, with certainty 'lest we forget' these atrocities.
And yes, "by imitating this God of mercy and compassion and love, we will find our way to true peace in our world." Renewed thanks.