Speeches 2002 - Friday, 13 December 2002

Since the family is the most influential institution in the education of the young, the State must appropriately support and encourage the family’s role as the primary teacher of moral and civic values.

As Your Excellency has graciously remarked, the Catholic Church in Jamaica is actively involved in the spiritual and intellectual development of the young, especially through her educational centres at various levels. This is an area in which there is ample room for cooperation between the State and other religious and social bodies striving to support parents in their role as principal educators of their children. The State has, as a matter of distributive justice, a supportive role, and should recognize the education of the young as one of its chief objectives and a matter of vital importance for the future of the nation. The Church in Jamaica will continue to do all she can to ensure excellence in her educational work, which is not limited to imparting knowledge but extends to everything that helps a young person grow into a mature and responsible human being, a capable and upright citizen.

Your Excellency, during your term as your country’s representative to the Holy See the various departments of the Roman Curia will do all they can to assist you in the discharge of your duties. I offer my best wishes for the success of your endeavours to strengthen further the cordial relations already existing between Jamaica and the Holy See. Upon you and your fellow citizens I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God.


ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER

TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR

OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA TO THE HOLY SEE

Friday, 13 December 2002



Mr Ambassador,

It is my pleasure to accept the Letters of Credence by which you are appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to the Holy See. I am most grateful for the greetings you bring from His Excellency Dr. Abdul Kalam, the newly-elected President of India, and I would ask you to convey my good wishes to him and to the Government and People of your beloved country.

As Your Excellency has noted, there has been a strong Christian presence in India almost since the beginning of Christianity itself, a presence which has contributed its share to the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the sub-continent. In recent history, contact between independent India and the Holy See led to the establishment of the diplomatic relations which your presence here today confirms and strengthens. These relations are an expression of the wide areas of shared outlook on important issues of international life which unite us in the service of the universal common good.

Today, when serious threats to cohesion and peace are straining international relations, there is ample room for us to work together in the international arena to foster a thoughtful and principled approach to the matters which continue to cause tensions between peoples and nations.

I continue to treasure vivid memories of my pastoral visits to India in 1985 and 1999, when I was able to witness at first hand the harmony and cooperation existing between people of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. This harmony is one of the pillars on which the unity of the Nation has been built and clearly it needs to be reaffirmed today if great harm and injustice are to be avoided. On many occasions I have spoken of ancient India’s role in cradling and nurturing cultures and traditions which have left a profound mark on the human spirit, and which still now are essential sources of wisdom and creative impulses which can help in no small way to counteract some of the negative consequences of the processes of globalization now taking place. I refer to the danger of the commercialization of almost every aspect of life, to the point that the profit motive and not the value of the human person dictates policies and modes of behaviour.

One of the recurring themes of my pontificate has been the affirmation of the conviction that true human progress can only be secured when there is effective and guaranteed respect for the inalienable dignity and rights of every human person. The world is still far from achieving this goal, as can be easily seen in the many forms of injustice and discrimination still inflicted on the weak in too many parts of the world. It is the solemn duty of every democratic system to promote and protect basic human rights and every category of these rights. This means not only those that refer to material survival but also those that relate to the human spirit in its unending quest for truth and freedom. Today the international community stands very much in need of a renewed and more effective commitment to meeting the needs of so many people seeking relief from their sufferings and aspiring to a proper education that will enable them to take an active part in the life of the community and nation to which they belong.

An integral part of a development which truly serves the good of individuals and peoples is respect for religious freedom, for this is the right which touches upon the individual’s most private and sovereign interior freedom. Nothing can be more damaging to social harmony and peace than the denial of this touchstone of human rights. India has strong traditions of respect for religious differences. It is my hope, Mr Ambassador, that for the good of the Nation contrary tendencies will not be allowed to develop and that the rule of law will ensure that violations of this principle will not go unchecked.

The last few years have been difficult ones for India and her neighbours as regional tensions and violence have resulted in loss of life and home for many people. Peace is a gift born of trust and must be steadfastly built up. In my address to the Fiftieth General Assembly of the United Nations in 1995 I said: “We must learn not to be afraid, we must rediscover a spirit of hope and a spirit of trust. Hope is not empty optimism springing from a naive confidence that the future will necessarily be better than the past. Hope and trust are the premise of responsible activity and are nurtured in that inner sanctuary where man is alone with God”. I can assure Your Excellency that the Catholic Church in India will continue to pray and work for these goals. Together with their fellow citizens of other traditions, Catholics share a deep desire for enduring peace and harmony in a society which values and fosters the dignity and rights of all its members.

Mr Ambassador, I am confident that as you undertake your mission the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and the Holy See will continue to be strengthened and enriched. I offer you my good wishes and assure you that the offices of the Roman Curia will always be ready to assist you. Upon Your Excellency and your fellow citizens I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God.



ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER

TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR

OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA TO THE HOLY SEE

Friday, 13 December 2002



Your Excellency,

It is my pleasure to offer you a cordial welcome as you come to the Vatican to present the Letters accrediting you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ghana to the Holy See. I appreciate the good wishes which you have brought from His Excellency President John Agyekum Kufuor and the Government, and I gladly reciprocate with the assurance of my prayers for the prosperity and spiritual well-being of the people of your nation.

Speaking of your country’s clear commitment to work for the cause of peace, you have mentioned the Holy See’s efforts in this same area. Indeed, it is precisely the task of fostering understanding and advancing development and peace among peoples and nations which motivates the Holy See’s diplomatic activity. An important aspect of this mission of promoting peace is the task of fostering ever greater awareness of the prime value of solidarity. As the modern phenomenon of globalization makes ever clearer, human society — whether at the national, regional or international levels — is more and more dependent on the basic relationships that people cultivate with one another in ever widening circles. These relationships move from the family to intermediary social groups and on to civil society as a whole, embracing the entire national community of a given country. States in turn enter into relationships with one another, and networks of global interdependence are created, both regional and worldwide.

At the same time, this growing reality of human interaction and interdependence brings to light many inequalities existing between peoples and nations: there is a wide gap between rich and poor countries; within nations there is social imbalance between those living in wealth and those offended in their dignity by a lack of the basic necessities of life. And then there is the damage that is done to the human and natural environment by the irresponsible use of resources. We are confronted by the sad fact that in certain areas these negative factors have become so acute that some of the poorest countries appear to have reached a point of irreversible decline. For this reason, and compellingly so, the promotion of justice must be at the very heart of the international community’s efforts to address these problems.

Here it is a question of actively helping individuals and groups currently suffering exclusion and marginalization to become part of the process of economic and human development. For affluent regions of the world, this means that changes in lifestyles are called for, a change in the models of production and consumption; in developing areas, a change in the established structures of power-sharing, both political and economic, is often required. For the entire human family, it means meeting the many serious challenges posed by armed aggression and violent conflict, realities that involve not only peoples and states but also non-institutional organizations, such as paramilitary and terrorist groups. In the face of such threats, no one can fail to feel the urgent moral duty to work actively towards promoting peace and understanding among peoples, a task which depends in no small part on the establishment — in justice — of a genuine and effective solidarity.

In this same context, we note the tragic consequences that ethnic conflict continues to bring to many regions of the world, including various parts of Africa and even your own country, which unfortunately has not been spared episodes of violence prompted by tribal rivalries. Here too the principle of solidarity can help the different parties to recognize the values that they hold in common, values rooted in our very nature as human persons. Awareness of these shared values provides an intrinsically universal basis for fruitful and constructive dialogue and mutual understanding. This in turn sets the stage for the further democratization of society, and helps to increase the participation of all groups in a representative and juridically safeguarded ordering of public life.

Of course, the Catholic Church will always be a willing partner in the pursuit of the common good, and she will continue to make her specific contribution to the building up of Ghanaian society. In this regard, I am grateful for Your Excellency’s words about the Church’s positive presence in your country. I would further observe that it is the guarantee of the right to religious freedom — the cornerstone of harmony and stability in any democratic system of government — that in no small part enables Ghana’s Catholics to work for the spiritual and material progress of their fellow citizens, promoting unity and fostering effective human brotherhood and solidarity.

Mr Ambassador, I am confident that your mission will serve to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation existing between the Republic of Ghana and the Holy See. As you take up your new responsibilities I offer you my prayerful good wishes, and I assure you that the various offices of the Roman Curia will be ready to assist you in the fulfilment of your duties. Upon you and the beloved people of Ghana I cordially invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God.



ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER

TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR

OF NORWAY TO THE HOLY SEE


Friday, 13 December 2002




Your Excellency,

I am pleased to welcome you to the Vatican as you present the Letters of Credence by which His Majesty King Harald V has appointed you Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Norway to the Holy See. I recall with joy the recent visit of Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja, and I ask you to convey my gratitude to His Majesty for his kind greetings and assure him of my prayers for the Royal Family and for all the people of Norway.

As Your Excellency has mentioned, Christianity has for more than one thousand years played a vital role in shaping the values of Norwegian society. Indeed, throughout the continent of Europe the truths and values of Christianity have long been the foundation of the very fabric of society, giving form to its institutions and sustaining its peoples in their march through time, in that never-ending human quest for truth, justice and freedom. However, one cannot help but notice that today a certain eclipse of the sense of God has resulted in an eclipse of the sense of the transcendence of man and of the intrinsic dignity of human life. Caught within the narrow confines of a materialistic outlook on reality, which easily leads to absorption with self and a utilitarian approach to living, people sometimes fail to recognize the nature of life as a gift, a gift which finds its genuine meaning and purpose in openness to the truth of its origin in God and in the exercise of wholehearted solidarity with other human beings. Limited by a self-centred understanding of themselves, people find it hard to accept the reality of a higher and objective law written on their hearts and accessible to conscience, that inner sanctuary of the soul where each one is challenged to reach the full measure of human maturity.

Christianity must continue to exercise the role it has always had in Europe, as the “soul” of its peoples, shedding light on and encouraging not only their religious but also their cultural and social development. Since the beginning of my Pontificate I have insisted on the importance which the Church attaches to the cultural life of peoples and nations, for a community’s culture is the response it gives to the fundamental questions of life, a response which is a crucial part of social attitudes and behaviour. I repeat what I said on my arrival in Oslo on 1 June 1989: “To remember the events and influences which have shaped a nation is to understand better the sources of its present historical direction”. That is why I have encouraged Christians to apply their faith, in a spirit of ecumenical and interreligious cooperation, to the shaping of their own communities and of the wider international community.

The challenges are considerable. A society faithful to its Christian roots cannot but be a society intensely concerned to meet the needs of others in less fortunate circumstances. It is a society which feels a deep-seated responsibility in the face of the prospect of an ecological crisis or the problems of peace or the lack of guarantees for the fundamental human rights of people. That is why I express once more my personal appreciation of Norway’s active solidarity with developing nations in far-flung parts of the world. I am confident that the aid which you generously give will always aim at serving the genuine interests of the peoples involved. In particular I have followed closely the efforts led by Norway to bring peace to the troubled Island of Sri Lanka, and I am glad to note the progress made in that difficult negotiation.

The exercise of solidarity within each society is the expression of a firm and persevering determination to promote the common good. In your own country such solidarity has a special place in the treatment given to the growing immigrant communities. Openness, respect and a sincere readiness for dialogue make it possible for immigrants, while they struggle to meet their own needs and those of their families, to make a specific and positive contribution to the country that receives them.

The Catholic Church in Norway, prompted by the belief that in the Church no one is a stranger, has found its experience of welcoming migrant peoples enriching and fruitful. Parish communities in many instances have become training grounds of hospitality and places where people can grow in knowledge and respect for one another as brothers and sisters in God’s family.

Your Excellency, I am confident that your presence as your country’s diplomatic representative will serve to strengthen further the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Norway and the Holy See. As you begin your mission I assure you that the various offices of the Roman Curia will be ready to assist you in every way possible in the fulfilment of your duties. Upon you and upon your fellow citizens I cordially invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God.




TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR OF RWANDA

TO THE HOLY SEE

Friday, 13 December 2002

Mr Ambassador,


1. I am happy to welcome you, Your Excellency, for the presentation of the Letters accrediting you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Rwanda to the Holy See.

I was grateful for the courteous words you addressed to me, and I would be pleased if you would express my gratitude to H.E. Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic for the good wishes he has conveyed to me through you. I also greet with affection the entire Rwandan people, imploring God to help them emerge from the trials they have been through. Since for many years the country has been at the mercy of hatred and violence, it is up to all the members of the nation to take an every more responsible part in planning and putting into practice appropriate political, economic and social solutions. By fostering national unity with respect for sensitivities and opinions, they will allow the present and future generations to learn again how to live as brothers and sisters in a reconciled and prosperous country.

2. You recall, Mr Ambassador, that the requirement of equitable justice is certainly the only foundation on which a state can build true peace and a strong democracy at the service of the integral development of all citizens without exception. One can only appreciate the efforts made in your country to promote justice: it is to be hoped that they bear fruit. This will contribute to reinforcing the national unity and to uprooting the culture of impunity that can only create hatred, exacerbating the inequalities between persons and the ethnic communities. It is a matter of allowing Rwandans to set out firmly and confidently on the path of effective reconciliation and sharing, while sincerely striving to seek and to express with courage the truth about the circumstances that led to the genocide. In a special way this implies giving up ethnocentrism, which gives rise to the domination of some over the others. It also means looking positively at the ground remaining to be covered to reach peace together.

3. The path of national reconstruction and harmony among all the inhabitants, on which Rwanda has set out, is also a path of democratization. It passes through an ever greater attention to certain aspects of democracy: the defence of public freedoms, the concern for political pluralism, respect for the fundamental dignity and rights of human persons and communities. Your country's new Constitution is in the process of being drafted. May the text, the result of the collaboration of all the citizens, strengthen the national unity, promoting and guaranteeing human, moral and spiritual values which will enable all Rwandans to play an active role in the life and growth of the nation! The universal values such as respect for human life, a sense of the common good, the acceptance of the repatriated, support of families, are a precious heritage that constitutes a source of hope, not only for Rwanda, but also for the whole Region of the Great Lakes, which is called to find the strength of mind and necessary political courage to establish a lasting and supportive development.

4. Over the years the Catholic Church has worked to formulate pastoral proposals which help people to be reconciled to one another and encourage their inner healing. I am delighted to know that the authorities of your country hope to assure her a more stable opportunity to exercise her mission freely. You may rest assured that she wants to work tirelessly at the service of peace and brotherhood among people, educating their consciences and their hearts so that they may be better equipped to face the present situation; she carries out her mission in this way, sharing her hope in the future and participating in the social and spiritual rebuilding of Rwandan society, with respect for the local traditions.

5. Mr Ambassador, permit me through you to greet affectionately the bishops and the Catholic community of your country. I know that they have faced harsh trials with all their compatriots, and I thank the Lord for their tenacity and fidelity in proclaiming the Gospel of life and forgiveness. In these days that herald the future for the life of the nation, I invite them never to slacken their efforts to show their brothers and sisters that God has not abandoned nor forgotten them. On the palms of Christ's hands, pierced by the nails of the crucifixion, is written the name of each Rwandan (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa ). I encourage the Catholics of Rwanda, especially the young generations, to be daring and generous peacemakers, working to overcome the causes of division and to develop a society that is ever more prosperous and united!

6. At the beginning of your mission to the Holy See, I am happy to offer you my very best wishes. You may rest assured that you will always find here, with my collaborators, the attentive and understanding welcome which you may need.

I cordially invoke an abundance of divine Blessings upon you, Your Excellency, and upon your family, as well as upon the entire Rwandan people and their leaders.




TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR OF RWANDA

TO THE HOLY SEE

Friday, 13 December 2002

Mr Ambassador,


1. I am happy to welcome you, Your Excellency, for the presentation of the Letters accrediting you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Rwanda to the Holy See.

I was grateful for the courteous words you addressed to me, and I would be pleased if you would express my gratitude to H.E. Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic for the good wishes he has conveyed to me through you. I also greet with affection the entire Rwandan people, imploring God to help them emerge from the trials they have been through. Since for many years the country has been at the mercy of hatred and violence, it is up to all the members of the nation to take an every more responsible part in planning and putting into practice appropriate political, economic and social solutions. By fostering national unity with respect for sensitivities and opinions, they will allow the present and future generations to learn again how to live as brothers and sisters in a reconciled and prosperous country.

2. You recall, Mr Ambassador, that the requirement of equitable justice is certainly the only foundation on which a state can build true peace and a strong democracy at the service of the integral development of all citizens without exception. One can only appreciate the efforts made in your country to promote justice: it is to be hoped that they bear fruit. This will contribute to reinforcing the national unity and to uprooting the culture of impunity that can only create hatred, exacerbating the inequalities between persons and the ethnic communities. It is a matter of allowing Rwandans to set out firmly and confidently on the path of effective reconciliation and sharing, while sincerely striving to seek and to express with courage the truth about the circumstances that led to the genocide. In a special way this implies giving up ethnocentrism, which gives rise to the domination of some over the others. It also means looking positively at the ground remaining to be covered to reach peace together.

3. The path of national reconstruction and harmony among all the inhabitants, on which Rwanda has set out, is also a path of democratization. It passes through an ever greater attention to certain aspects of democracy: the defence of public freedoms, the concern for political pluralism, respect for the fundamental dignity and rights of human persons and communities. Your country's new Constitution is in the process of being drafted. May the text, the result of the collaboration of all the citizens, strengthen the national unity, promoting and guaranteeing human, moral and spiritual values which will enable all Rwandans to play an active role in the life and growth of the nation! The universal values such as respect for human life, a sense of the common good, the acceptance of the repatriated, support of families, are a precious heritage that constitutes a source of hope, not only for Rwanda, but also for the whole Region of the Great Lakes, which is called to find the strength of mind and necessary political courage to establish a lasting and supportive development.

4. Over the years the Catholic Church has worked to formulate pastoral proposals which help people to be reconciled to one another and encourage their inner healing. I am delighted to know that the authorities of your country hope to assure her a more stable opportunity to exercise her mission freely. You may rest assured that she wants to work tirelessly at the service of peace and brotherhood among people, educating their consciences and their hearts so that they may be better equipped to face the present situation; she carries out her mission in this way, sharing her hope in the future and participating in the social and spiritual rebuilding of Rwandan society, with respect for the local traditions.

5. Mr Ambassador, permit me through you to greet affectionately the bishops and the Catholic community of your country. I know that they have faced harsh trials with all their compatriots, and I thank the Lord for their tenacity and fidelity in proclaiming the Gospel of life and forgiveness. In these days that herald the future for the life of the nation, I invite them never to slacken their efforts to show their brothers and sisters that God has not abandoned nor forgotten them. On the palms of Christ's hands, pierced by the nails of the crucifixion, is written the name of each Rwandan (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa ). I encourage the Catholics of Rwanda, especially the young generations, to be daring and generous peacemakers, working to overcome the causes of division and to develop a society that is ever more prosperous and united!

6. At the beginning of your mission to the Holy See, I am happy to offer you my very best wishes. You may rest assured that you will always find here, with my collaborators, the attentive and understanding welcome which you may need.

I cordially invoke an abundance of divine Blessings upon you, Your Excellency, and upon your family, as well as upon the entire Rwandan people and their leaders.




TO THE NEW AMBASSADORS

ACCREDITED TO THE HOLY SEE

Friday, 13 December 2002

Your Excellencies,

1. I am happy to welcome you to the Vatican for the presentation of the Letters accrediting you as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of your respective countries: Sierra Leone, Jamaica, India, Ghana, Norway, Rwanda and Madagascar. As I thank you for conveying the cordial messages of your Heads of State, I would be grateful if you would kindly transmit my respectful greetings and fervent good wishes for them and for their important mission at the service of all their compatriots. Through you, I cordially greet the civil and religious authorities of your countries, as well as all your fellow-citizens, assuring them of my esteem and sympathy.

2. Peace is one of the most precious goods for human persons, peoples and States. You who keep abreast of international events know that all human beings ardently desire it. Without peace there can be no true development of individuals, families, society or the economy itself. Peace is a duty for all. To will peace is not a sign of weakness but of strength. It is achieved by means of respect for international order and international law which must be priorities for all who are responsible for the welfare of nations. Similarly, it is important to consider the fundamental value of joint and multilateral action to resolve conflicts on the different continents.

3. Forms of extreme poverty and injustice are the source of violence and contribute to maintaining and developing many local or regional conflicts. I think particularly of the countries in which famine takes place so regularly. The international community is called to do all it can for the gradual elimination of these scourges, mainly by providing the material and human means that will help the peoples who have the greatest need. Greater support for the organization of the local economies would certainly empower the indigenous peoples to gain greater control of their future.

Today poverty poses an alarming threat to the world, endangering political, economic and social balances. In the spirit of the International Conference of Vienna on Human Rights in 1993, poverty undermines the dignity of persons and peoples. One must recognize the right of each person to what is necessary for life, and to benefit from a share of his nation's wealth. Through Your Excellencies, once again I desire to launch a pressing appeal to the international community so that it can reexamine without delay the twofold issue of the fair allocation of the planet's wealth and of a technological and scientific assistance to the poor countries, which is a duty incumbent on the rich countries. Furthering development involves the education in all areas of expertise of the local leaders who in the future will be responsible for the welfare of their people, so that they may benefit more directly from the raw materials and the wealth to be extracted from beneath and above the ground.

It is in this perspective that the Catholic Church desires to continue her action, in the diplomatic world and by her presence in various countries of the world and her closeness to the people, working for the respect of persons and peoples and for the advancement of all, especially through integral education and the creation of social structures.

4. As you begin your mission to the Holy See, I offer you my cordial good wishes. As I invoke an abundance of divine Blessings on you, your families, your collaborators and the nations you represent, I ask the Most High to shower his gifts upon you.




TO THE FEDERATION OF CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS

FOR INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE (FOCSIV)

Saturday, 14 December 2002

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. I am happy to welcome and greet each of you gathered here, representing Catholic international volunteer associations under the umbrella of the Federation of Christian Organizations for International Volunteer Service.

I address a special greeting to your chaplain and to your President, whom I thank for his cordial words expressing your common sentiments.

2. In these days you are holding the annual assembly of your federation that is particularly important since this year is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of FOCSIV. The federation came into being after the Second Vatican Council, through the initiative of the laity, encouraged by my venerable Predecessor, the Servant of God Paul VI.

From its beginning, the federation has been outstanding for its concentration on cooperation among peoples, for the dedication with which it has constantly promoted their development through the generous work of the thousands of volunteers whom the organizations that comprise the Federation have sent to countries in what is known as the Third World since 1972. Today your associations are present on the five continents. They carry out important initiatives of solidarity in collaboration with the local Churches and missionaries.

3. A typical feature of your praiseworthy federation, called to work with all the relief agencies that encourage human advancement, is the Christian inspiration that guides and supports its action in many parts of the world.


Speeches 2002 - Friday, 13 December 2002