Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) - Study, translate and diffuse Catholic Social Doctrine is the mission of a new John Paul II Study Centre inaugurated 29 January at Assumption Catholic University in Bang na about 40 km from the capital Bangkok. The Centre is named after Pope Wojtyla to honour his memory and to foster study and implementation of his history-making social encyclicals. A bronze statue of the late Pope John Paul II was unveiled during the inauguration ceremony attended by several distinguished guests including Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, civil authorities, ambassadors and other diplomats, a number of Thai Bishops, Cardinal Michai Kitbunchu archbishop of Bangkok, Bishop George Phimphisan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand and several Buddhist religious leaders.
Cardinal Martino congratulated the university rector Brother Bancha Saenghiran on the new Centre and took the opportunity to present the Compendium of Catholic Social Doctrine, produced by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He explained that the Compendium is based on certain fundamental principles: the dignity and freedom of the human person; the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity. The Cardinal said the Church’s Social Doctrine rotates around these principles and develops starting from the inviolable dignity of every the human person “subject and object of all life in society”. The Compendium, he added, is not only for Catholics, it is intended for all men and women of good will and is also an incentive for dialogue and search for unity in diversity.
As a first major commitment the John Paul II Centre has taken on the task of translating the Compendium into the Thai language. Assumption University is run by the Brothers of Saint Gabriel and has over 20,000 students from 70 different countries. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/1/2007 righe 27 parole 278)
