Pope John Paul will challenge the world to come up with new international laws to prevent future conflicts, the Vatican says.
The Pope, one of the most strident anti-war voices during the build-up to the US-led invasion of Iraq, has chosen international law as the theme for the next World Peace Day on January 1st, 2004, a statement said.
"The recent war in Iraq has plainly shown the fragility of international law, especially when it comes to the workings of the United Nations," the Vatican said.
"Humanity faces a crucial challenge: if it fails to create truly efficient institutions to stave off the punishment of war, the risk is that force will prevail over law," it added.
The Pope has said that instead of setting down the rules for war, international legislation should focus on building and preserving peace, justice and solidarity.
The Pope tried to avert war in the months preceding the attack on Iraq, meeting figures such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Bitterly disappointed that military action went ahead, the Pope made frequent appeals for peace while the conflict raged.