VATICAN - THE POPE’S ANNUAL NEW YEAR ADDRESS TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS: “IT IS MORE THAN EVER NECESSARY TO LEARN FROM THE PAST, REMOTE AND RECENT. IN ANY CASE ONE THING IS CERTAIN: WAR DOES NOT SOLVE CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEOPLES!”

Vatican City (Fides) – Pope John Paul II gave his annual new year audience to Ambassadors on 12 January in the Vatican. Today a total of 174 individual countries have diplomatic ties with the Holy See, as well as communities such as the European Union, the Sovereign Order of Malta and two special missions, the Russian Federation Mission and the Office of the Organisation for the Liberation of Palestine.
Speaking in French, the Holy Father reviewed events of the past year. He said that at Christmas time “the message of Bethlehem, always new, resounds once again: Peace on earth to mankind whom God loves. This message reaches us again this year while many peoples suffer the consequences of armed conflict, from poverty, they are victims of blatant injustices and pandemics difficult to control".
In recent months peace has been threatened in various parts of the world: the Pope mentioned events in the Middle East, the tragic war in Iraq, the unsolved problem Israel-Palestine which “continues to be a factor of permanent destabilisation for the whole region”. “Other tensions and conflicts, especially in Africa, could also be mentioned – the Pope continued -. Their impact on people is tragic. In addition to the effects of violence, impoverishment and deterioration of the institutional tissue throw entire peoples into desperation. We should also mention the constant danger represented by the production and trade of arms which feed abundantly these zones at risk.” The Holy Father then made a special mention of Archbishop Michael Courtney, Apostolic Nuncio to Burundi where he was assassinated on 29 December: “Like all nuncios and diplomats, he desired to serve above all the cause of peace and dialogue. I pay homage to his courage and concern to support the Burundian people on their journey towards peace and towards greater fraternity”. The Pope also mentioned Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, United Nations special representative in Iraq killed in an attack while on mission, and all those members of the diplomatic corps who lost their lives or suffered because of their mandate. Lastly the Pope mentioned international terrorism which spreads fear, hatred and fanaticism, dishonouring all the causes it claims to support: “any civilisation worthy of the name presupposes categorical rejection of relations of violence.”
“It is more then ever urgent to achieve more effective collective security in order to give the United Nations Organisation its proper place and role. It is more than ever necessary to learn from the past, remote and recent. In any case one thing is certain: war does not solve conflicts between peoples!”
The Pope said that although he was speaking for the Catholic Church, he is aware that other Christian confessions and followers of other religions “consider themselves witnesses of a God of justice and peace ”. “When one believes that every human person has received from the Creator unique dignity, that each of us is the subject of inalienable rights and freedoms, that to serve others is to grow in humanity, (...) it is easy to realise the capital which the community of believers represents for the building of a pacified and peaceful world... Wherever peace is in danger, there are Christians who demonstrate in word and deed that peace is possible”.
Since communities of believers are present in all societies, they rightly expect to be allowed to participate in the public debate. Unfortunately “in certain European countries we have seen, in recent times, an attitude which could endanger effective respect for religious freedom. Although everyone agrees with regard to respect for the religious sentiments of individuals, the same cannot be said for the ‘fait religieux’, that is the social dimension of religions”. The Holy Father recalled that “the principle of secularity is often invoked”, and it is legitimate when understood as distinction between the political community and religions. “Nevertheless, distinction does not signify ignorance! Secularity is not secularism! It is none other than respect for all faiths on the part of the state which guarantees communities of believers free exercise of religious, spiritual, cultural and charitable activities.” Relations between church and state should foster respectful dialogue which promotes the integral development of the human person and harmony in society. "Difficult in accepting religion, as such, in public affairs emerged emblematically during the recent debate on the Christian roots of Europe. (...) While not undervaluing other religious traditions, there remains the fact that Europe matured as it was evangelised. And in all justice one must remember that, not so long ago, by promoting the freedom and rights of the human person Christians contributed to the peaceful transformation of authoritarian regimes, as well as the restoration of democracies in central and eastern Europe".
The Pope devoted the last part of his address to the responsibility of Christians for peace and unity: “if Christians were able to overcome their divisions there would be more solidarity in the world" affirmed John Paul II proclaiming: "Christians, we are responsible for the Gospel of peace! (Eph 6,15) Together we can effectively contribute to respect for life, safeguarding the dignity and unalienable rights of the human person, to social justice and protection of the environment. (...) not enough weight is given to the pacifying influence that Christians united could have on their own community and on civil society".
(S.L.) (Fides Service 13/1/2004 – lines 66; Parole 940)