Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On Monday 8 January Pope Benedict XVI met the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See for the customary exchange of New Year greetings. After an opening discourse by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Prof. Giovanni Galassi, Ambassador to the Holy See of the Republic of San Marino, the Pope delivered a lengthy address on the international situation, “to focus upon the challenges that we are called to address together. ”.
First of all, among what he termed “essential”, matters the Holy Father spoke of the millions of people, mainly women and children, without water, food or shelter. “The worsening scandal of hunger is unacceptable in a world which has the resources, the knowledge, and the means available to bring it to an end” said Pope Benedict XVI calling on the leaders of richer countries “to take the necessary steps to ensure that poor countries, which often have a wealth of natural resources, are able to benefit from the fruits of goods that are rightfully theirs.” The Pope said he hoped that the trade negotiations of the “Doha Development Round” of the World Trade Organization would be resumed, and that the process of debt cancellation and reduction for the poorest countries would be continued and accelerated. He mentioned other important areas such as disarmament where “symptoms of a developing crisis are multiplying”, and he said security issues “aggravated by terrorism, which is to be utterly condemned - must be approached from a global and far-sighted perspective.” The migratory phenomenon is another serious problem: “millions of men and women are forced to leave their homes or their native lands because of violence or in order to seek more dignified living conditions. It is an illusion to think that migration can be blocked or checked simply by force. Migration and the problems to which it gives rise must be addressed humanely, with justice and compassion. ”. The Holy Father expressed deep concern for continuous attacks against life, from conception to natural death, and against the natural structure of the family and attempts to “relativise it by giving it the same status as other radically different forms of union… Other forms of attack on life are sometimes committed in the name of scientific research. There is a growing conviction that research is subject only to the laws that it chooses for itself and that it is limited only by its own possibilities” the Pope said.
Among the positive elements today the Pope mentioned “growing awareness of the importance of dialogue between cultures and religions”, and “growing awareness shown by the international community of the enormous challenges of our time, and the efforts made to transform this awareness into concrete action.”. Within the framework of development, various initiatives have been undertaken but these projects “ must not supplant the commitment of developed countries to devote 0.7% of their gross domestic product to international aid” the Pope said adding that another important element in common efforts to eradicate poverty is the move to combat corruption and promote good governance.
Considering the situation on the different continents, the Pope mentioned concerns and hopes, first of all “peace is often fragile and even mocked”. In Africa the drama of Darfur continues and is being extended to the border regions of Chad and the Central African Republic. “The international community has seemed powerless for almost four years, despite initiatives intended to bring relief to the populations in distress and to arrive at a political solution” the Pope recalled urging those involved to “act with determination”. Recalling that in the Horn of Africa hostilities have resumed and the conflict has become international, the Holy Father mentioned the Italian missionary Sr Leonella Sgorbati “who gave her life in the service of the least fortunate, and prayed that her murderers be forgiven.” Progress must be made in negotiations among the parties in Uganda to put an end to conflict and the Pope said - “I repeat, we must not forget Africa with its numerous situations of war and tension. We must remember that only negotiations between the various protagonists can open the way to a just settlement of the conflicts and offer a glimpse of progress towards the establishment of lasting peace”.
Among positive signals in Africa the Pope mentioned the conclusion of the political transition in Burundi and the Republic Democratic of Congo, and the long process of national reconciliation in Rwanda, and he urged the parties in Cote d’Ivoire “to create a climate of mutual trust that can lead to disarmament and peace”. Positive signals include “the wish expressed by the international community to keep its attention focused on this continent. Likewise, the strengthening of Africa’s continental and regional institutions bears witness to the desire of the countries concerned to take increasing charge of their own destiny.”.
Speaking about his planned journey to Brazil in May, to attend the General Conference of the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences, CELAM, the Pope noted with satisfaction “improvement in certain economic indicators, the commitment to combat drug-trafficking and corruption, the various processes of integration, the efforts to improve access to education, to fight unemployment and to reduce inequalities in the distribution of revenues” in Brazil. Referring to elections in many American countries the Pope said “democracy is called to take into account the aspirations of the citizens as a whole, and to promote increasing respect for all the components of society, according to the principles of solidarity, subsidiarity and justice”, underlining that democracy must not be allowed to turn into “the dictatorship of relativism”. Pope Benedict XVI then called attention to Colombia, “where the long internal conflict has provoked a humanitarian crisis, especially as far as displaced persons are concerned.”, and Cuba, voicing the hope that “all of its inhabitants may realize their legitimate aspirations, amid concern for the common good”. Speaking of Asia, where there are countries with “very large populations and significant economic development”, the Pope said he hoped the growing presence of China and India on the international scene would “bring with it benefits for their own populations and for other nations”, he said he prayed for Vietnam recalling its recent entry into the World Trade Organization. In most Asian countries Christian communities are small but active but they have a “with a legitimate desire to be able to live and act in a climate of religious liberty. This is not only a primordial right but it is a condition that will enable them to contribute to the material and spiritual progress of society, and to be sources of cohesion and harmony” the Pope said. In East Timor “the Catholic Church intends to continue making her contribution, notably in the fields of education, healthcare and national reconciliation”; and with regard to “dangerous sources of tension lurking in the Korean Peninsula”, the Pope stressed the need the need to reach reconciliation of the two peoples and de-nuclearisation of the Peninsula. The situation is also concerning in Afghanistan, with a notable increase violence and terrorist attacks, and in Sri Lanka, since “the failure of the Geneva negotiations between the Government and the Tamil Movement has brought with it an intensification of the conflict, causing great suffering among the civilian population”. “The Middle East is also a source of great anxiety ” the Pope said mentioning the letter he addressed to Catholics in the region on the occasion of Christmas, renewing his “urgent appeal to all parties involved in the complex political chessboard of the region, hoping for a consolidation of the positive signs noted in recent weeks between Israelis and Palestinians. The Holy See will never tire of reiterating that armed solutions achieve nothing, as we saw in Lebanon last Summer… When each of the peoples in the region sees that its expectations are taken into consideration and thus feels less threatened, then mutual trust will be strengthened. This trust will grow if a country like Iran, especially in relation to its nuclear programme, agrees to give a satisfactory response to the legitimate concerns of the international community. Steps taken in this direction surely help to stabilize the whole region, especially Iraq, putting an end to the appalling violence which disfigures that country with bloodshed, and offering an opportunity to work for reconstruction and reconciliation between all its inhabitants.”
Coming to the continent of Europe the Pope mentioned Bulgaria and Rumania who joined the European Union on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, and in this regard the Pope said: “I hope that the fundamental values that are at the basis of human dignity will be fully protected, particularly religious freedom in all its dimensions and the institutional rights of Churches. Likewise, one cannot ignore the undeniable Christian heritage of the continent, which has greatly contributed to the formation of European nations and European peoples”. The Pope made special mention of the Balkan region that it may soon achieve “stability so ardently desired… The establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Montenegro, which has recently entered peacefully into the family of nations, and the Fundamental Accord signed with Bosnia-Herzegovina are signs of the Holy See’s constant concern for the Balkan region. As the moment approaches in which the statute of Kosovo will be defined, the Holy See asks all concerned to strive with far-sighted wisdom, flexibility and moderation, so that a solution may be found which respects the rights and legitimate expectations of all”.
Pope Benedict XVI concluded: “It is by respecting the human person that peace can be promoted, and it is by building peace that the foundations of an authentic integral humanism are laid. This is where I find the answer to the concern for the future voiced by so many of our contemporaries. Yes, the future can be serene if we work together for humanity. Man, created in the image of God, has an incomparable dignity; man, who is so worthy of love in the eyes of his Creator that God did not hesitate to give his own Son for him”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/1/2007 - righe 117, parole 1.671)
