ZE090529
ZENIT
The World Seen From Rome
Daily dispatch - May 29, 2009
Donation Campaign - ZENIT DEPENDS ON YOU!
Would you like to help? Do you wish to send a donation by CHECK?
You can make out to "ZENIT" and send it by mail to:
- In U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars:
ZENIT
P.O. Box 2832
Windermere, FL 34786-2832 - USA
- In euro or currencies other than U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars:
ZENIT
AP 105
28220 Majadahonda
Madrid - Spain
Please include in the envelope your name and e-mail address so that we can thank you personally..
To send a donation through CREDIT CARD: http://www.zenit.org/english/donation.html
The credit card system on our Web page is fast and simple. Your order will be transferred to our security page, which has the highest level of protection.
Donations to ZENIT from the United States are tax deductible
VATICAN DOSSIER
Crisis Could Turn Into "Catastrophe," Says Pope
Mongolia Noted as Example of Religious Liberty
Attacks Against Christians Trouble Pontiff
Pontiff: Church Trusts in Man's Heart, Mind
WORLD FEATURES
Making Friends With the Holy See
Cardinal Stands Up for Priestly Celibacy
NEWS BRIEFS
Christians Gather for Peace Prayer in Holy Land
DOCUMENTS
Papal Address to Envoy From India
Benedict XVI's Address to Mongolian Envoy
CLASSIFIED ADS
The best Catholic speakers on Cds and in books - only $3.00 ea.!!!
Crisis Could Turn Into "Catastrophe," Says Pope
Urges Rich Nations to Increase Aid to Developing OnesROME, MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The current economic and social crisis could lead to a "catastrophe" if richer nations don't come to the aid of poorer ones, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said this today upon receiving the letters of credence from eight new ambassadors to the Holy See. The envoys present represented Mongolia, India, Benin, New Zealand, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Namibia and Norway.
He warned those present of the dangers of inequality, and the conflicts it sparks.
Speaking to the eight in French, the Pontiff noted that "in the midst of a worldwide social and economic crisis, it is necessary regain an awareness of the need to struggle in the most effective manner to establish true peace, with the aim of constructing a more just and prosperous world."
He said injustices "represent attacks against peace and create a grave risk of conflict," and that peace "cannot be built except by intervening firmly to eliminate the inequality engendered by unjust systems, and so allowing everyone a standard of living that enables them to live a dignified and prosperous existence."
Benedict XVI said the current economic crisis has particularly affected low-income countries. He noted such negative effects include "the tailing off of foreign investment, the fall in demand for raw materials and the tendency for international aid to diminish," as well as "the drop in remittances of emigrants, likewise victims of the recession, which also affects their host countries."
The Pontiff warned that the current crisis could become a "catastrophe," especially for poorer nations, as "desperation" leads people to undertake "individual or collective acts of violence that can further destabilize already-weakened societies."
One suggestion made by the Pope was for richer nations to increase aid to poorer ones, rather than cutting it, "so that the neediest countries are able to sustain their economies and consolidate social measures designed to protect the most needy sectors of the population."
He also launched an appeal for "greater fraternity and solidarity, and real global generosity," and for "developed countries to rediscover a sense of proportion and sobriety in their economies and lifestyles."
email this article | print this article | comment this article
Mongolia Noted as Example of Religious Liberty
Pontiff Receives Envoy From Former Communist CountryROME, MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI called Mongolia an example of religious liberty when he received the country's new ambassador to the Holy See.
The Pope said this today in a written statement he gave to Danzannorov Boldbaatar. The Pontiff received the envoy in an audience together with seven other ambassadors representing Mongolia, Benin, New Zealand, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Namibia and Norway. He addressed the eight as a group, and then gave each one a written statement that addressed concerns particular to each county.In his address to Boldbaatar, the Holy Father noted that Mongolia's constitution, introduced in 1992, recognizes religious liberty as a "fundamental right."
"This fundamental human right, enshrined in Mongolia's Constitution and upheld by its citizens as conducive to the full development of the human person, allows them to search for the truth, engage in dialogue and fulfill their duty to worship God immune from any undue coercion," the Pontiff said.
"Peoples who practice religious tolerance have an obligation to share the wisdom of this tenet with the entire human family, so that all men and women might perceive the beauty of tranquil co-existence and have the courage to build a society that respects human dignity and acts upon the divine injunction to love one's neighbor," he added.
After the fall of Communism in the early 1990s, the first Catholic missionaries -- a Belgian and two Filipinos -- arrived to Mongolia, where few people had heard of Jesus Christ. The Holy See established diplomatic relations with the formally Communist country in 1992.
Today the Church in Mongolia consists of one apostolic prefecture in Ulan Bator. An apostolic prefecture is generally the first step toward the establishment of a diocese.
Bishop Wenceslao Padilla of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary leads the apostolic prefecture, which reports about 100 baptisms a year.
Benedict XVI assured that the Catholic community, "though still small in Mongolia, is eager to offer its assistance in fostering interreligious dialogue, promoting development, expanding educational opportunities, and furthering the noble goals that strengthen the solidarity of the human family and turn its gaze to the action of the divine in the world. While recognizing the due autonomy of the political community, the Catholic Church is compelled to cooperate with civil society in ways suitable to the circumstances of the time and place in which the two find themselves living together."
Tibetan Buddhism is the most widely practiced religion in the country. Forty percent of Mongolians say they are atheists.
--- --- ---
On ZENIT's Web page:
Full text: www.zenit.org/article-26029?l=english
email this article | print this article | comment this article
Attacks Against Christians Trouble Pontiff
Notes Concern When Greeting India's AmbassadorROME, MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI expressed his desire that everyone should enjoy religious freedom in a message written for the new ambassador from India, where Christians were the object of a wave of violence last year in the eastern state of Orissa.
The Pope said this today in a written statement he gave to Chitra Narayanan. The Pontiff received the envoy in an audience together with seven other ambassadors representing Mongolia, Benin, New Zealand, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Namibia and Norway. He addressed the eight as a group, and then gave each one a written statement that addressed concerns particular to each county.
In his message to Narayanan, the Holy Father said that "as Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Church, I join religious and governmental leaders throughout the world who share a common desire that all members of the human family enjoy the freedom to practice religion and engage in civil life without fear of adverse repercussions on account of their beliefs."
"I therefore cannot help but express my deep concern for Christians who have suffered from outbreaks of violence in some areas within your borders," he said.
Ongoing Hindu-Christian tensions flared into a wave of violence last August after Hindu extremists in Orissa blamed the slaying of a Hindu leader on Christians. Dozens of Christians, including a priest, were killed, and more than 54,000 fled their homes. Thousands of them are still living in displacement camps.
The violence spread to more than 392 towns, where some 5,000 houses, 149 churches, and 40 schools were destroyed or burned to the ground.
Benedict XVI recognized the government's efforts "to provide the afflicted with shelter and assistance, relief and rehabilitation, as well as for the measures taken to implement criminal investigations and fair judicial processes to resolve these issues."
"I appeal to all to show respect for human dignity by rejecting hatred and renouncing violence in all its forms," he added.
The Pontiff continued: "For her part, the Catholic Church in your country will continue to play a role promoting peace, harmony and reconciliation between followers of all religions, especially through education and formation in the virtues of justice, forbearance and charity.
"Indeed, this is the inherent goal of all genuine forms of education since -- in conformity with the dignity of the human person and the call of all men and women to live in community -- they aim at cultivating moral virtues and preparing young people to embrace their social responsibilities with a refined sensibility for what is good, just and noble."
--- --- ---
On ZENIT's Web site:
Full text: www.zenit.org/article-26030?l=english
email this article | print this article | comment this article
Pontiff: Church Trusts in Man's Heart, Mind
Says Showing This Trust Is Key MissionROME, MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- With relativism and nihilism influencing culture, one of the Church's principal contributions should be bearing witness to trust in life and in the human person, his reason and his capacity to love, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope affirmed this Thursday when he received participants in the general assembly of the Italian episcopal conference, who were gathered in their general assembly that ended today.
Taking up a theme he has previously discussed with the Italian bishops, the Holy Father considered elements of the "educational emergency." The theme of the bishops' assembly also centered on this issue.
"At a time in which relativistic and nihilistic concepts of life exercise a powerful enticement, a time in which the very legitimacy of education is placed in doubt, the principal contribution we can make is that of bearing witness to our trust in life and in man, in his reason and in his capacity to love," he said.
"The difficulty in forming authentic Christians interweaves and melds with the difficulty of creating responsible and mature men and women," he added, according to the Vatican Information Service.
And, the Bishop of Rome contended, in order to shape a process of overall development, there needs to be at the core of educational projects "an awareness of truth and goodness, and free adherence to these values."
Moreover, there is a need not only for good curricula but also for authoritative educators, the Pontiff asserted.
"A true educator places himself in the front line and knows how to unite authority and exemplarity in the task of educating those entrusted to his care. We ourselves are aware of this, having been given the role of guides among the People of God, guides whom the Apostle Peter invites to tend God's sheep and to 'be examples to the flock," he noted.
The Pope then referred to the forthcoming Year for Priests, recalling how priestly ministry "is a service to the Church and to Christian people, requiring a profound spirituality [...] nourished by prayer and by intense personal union with the Lord, in order to be able to serve our brothers and sisters through preaching, the sacraments, orderly community life and help for the poor. All priestly ministry reveals [...] the importance of commitment to education, so that people may grow freely and responsibly as mature and conscientious Christians."
Loaning hope
Benedict XVI went on to consider the economic crisis that "has hit the global community so hard. [...] Despite the measures taken at various levels, the social effects of the crisis are still being felt, and seriously felt, especially by the weakest strata of society and by families"
The Pope mentioned the fact that collections raised at Mass next Sunday will be used for the "Loan of Hope" initiative, a program for families affected by the crisis, which he described as "an eloquent testimony of the mutual sharing of burdens, […] a moving announcement of the interior conversion generated by the Gospel and a touching expression of ecclesial communion."
Finally, the Holy Father considered a particular form of ecclesiastical charity in Italy: "intellectual" charity, of which "one significant example is the commitment to promote a widespread mentality in support of life in its every aspect and moment, with particular concern for lives marked by conditions of fragility and precariousness."
"Thus," the Pontiff concluded, "our minds return to the central theme of your assembly -- the urgent task of education -- which must be rooted in the Word of God and requires spiritual discernment, cultural and social programs, and gratuitous and united witness."
email this article | print this article | comment this article
Making Friends With the Holy See
Symposium Considers 25 Years of US Diplomatic RelationsWASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The United States is interested in keeping and developing its diplomatic relations with the Holy See for three principal reasons, according to former U.S. ambassador Mary Ann Glendon.
Glendon offered her reflections on motives for formal relations between the two entities at a daylong symposium held Thursday at the Catholic University of America. The conference marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of these relations, when President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II formalized them Jan. 10, 1984.
Glendon, who is also the president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and a Harvard professor, said that relations with the Holy See have come to be "especially valuable to the United States," and offered her suggestions on "why it is likely to remain so in the future."
"The first reason is simply that the Holy See's sphere of concern, like that of the United States, is worldwide," the former ambassador explained. Citing Colin Powell, she added, "Both of us think and act globally and that makes for a unique partnership."
There are "important common commitments, global commitments, enduring commitments" shared by the two states, Glendon contended. And she listed a common pledge to "human rights, especially religious freedom, to strengthening the global moral consensus against terrorism, especially against the use of religion as a pretext for violence, to fostering interreligious dialogue and to working for peace in the Middle East and other troubled areas of the world."
The professor went on to maintain that a strong link could be expected between two entities that share a "common commitment to the relief of poverty, hunger, disease among the poorest peoples of the world, and the poorest countries of the world."
"If you think about it, it is only natural that a partnership should have arisen between the country that is the world's largest and most generous donor of humanitarian aid and the Holy See, which oversees the world's largest network of health care, educational and relief agencies," she remarked.
Listening and speaking
Offering a second reason for the importance of relations with the Holy See, Glendon said that the Holy See is "regarded as what diplomats call an important listening post." This, she explained, is due to the Church's "350,000 educational, charitable aid agencies, health care agencies all over the world," and its "network of parishes, parish priests, dioceses, bishops, missionaries, religious sisters all over the world."
"This gives the Holy See access to types of information that are difficult for most countries to obtain -- information about what is really going on in the capillaries of society," she commented.
Finally, the pontifical academy president said another reason can be offered, one that is "increasingly important as our world has become more interdependent."
"In this age of rapid communications, the Holy See has come to be recognized not only as a great listening post, but as a great, important, influential communicator. It possesses a widely respected moral voice," Glendon declared. "As they say, 'When the Pope speaks the world listens.' And since that voice carries so many of the values to which the United States also is dedicated, this provides yet another reason to treasure our diplomatic relationship."
Hard to come by
Nevertheless, as attested by an address from New York's Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the fact that the United States and the Holy See share formal diplomatic relations is only thanks to literally centuries of effort, dating back to the very beginnings of the United States as a nation.
Contacts were "awkward at the start," as the United States established itself as a state, the archbishop explained. Superiors in Rome were initially concerned about the health of the Church in this new country.
The model the fledging state was developing for relations between Church and state was also unique. Archbishop Dolan noted how Benjamin Franklin responded to a request from Rome that there was no need to involve Congress in dictating who would govern the Church in the United States.
Nevertheless, there was no easy road to follow in order to establish a good relationship.
Rome wanted early on "more stable contact" with both the Church in the United States and with the government, "hopefully in the person of an apostolic delegate," the prelate said.
But, anti-Catholicism in the United States was part of the obstacle, he pointed out, as could be seen with the tour of a papal diplomat in 1853, who after mob harassment eventually had to be escorted in disguise to a departing ship in the New York harbor.
Several presidents were able to maintain contact with Rome through the figures of "personal envoys." Then finally, in 1984, Archbishop Dolan explained, a turnaround came about: "Undoubtedly the immense prestige of Pope John Paul II and the obvious influence of the Holy See in world affairs muted criticism," and President Reagan was able to formalize ties with the Holy See.
"From the Holy See's point of view, the establishment of the pontifical mission in Washington has been very successful," the prelate said. "Since the earliest days of the new Republic, due to distance, the novel political arrangement, the American penchant for freedom, and the unreliability of communication, Rome has been ever eager for stable, personal representation. […]
"The development [of] influence of the United States in world affairs made such a mission all the more important so that the exchange of ambassadors and nuncio in 1984 proved very satisfactory. And to the United States as well, even critics had to acknowledge the Holy See's impact on world events in the mid 1980s when diplomatic relations were formalized and to admit that it was probably in America's self interest to have exchanged ambassadors."
"It may have taken a while to get there," he concluded, "but it has sure been worth it."
--- --- ---
On the Net:
Archbishop Dolan's full account of the history of U.S.-Holy See relations and Mary Ann Glendon's address: http://digitalmedia.cua.edu//calendar/event_dsp.cfm?event=4707
email this article | print this article | comment this article
Cardinal Stands Up for Priestly Celibacy
Lima Prelate Says Notre Dame Is "Confused"ROME, MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Scandals that arise when priests fail to live celibacy are not just about priestly discipline, but rather about a failed understanding of human love, says the cardinal archbishop of Lima, Peru.
ZENIT spoke with Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani about two recent scandals regarding priestly celibacy that have attracted the attention of the American continent -- Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo who admitted he fathered a child while still a bishop, and Miami Father Alberto Cutié who converted to the Episcopalian church this week after photos of him with a woman were circulated.
"I think that we shouldn't speak just of these two cases, of celibacy, but of human love in general," Cardinal Cipriani suggested, affirming that "Deus Caritas Est" explains it well. "The Pope explains to us with great detail how this love, which begins in this movement of 'eros' becomes 'agape.'"
Noting how God defines love clearly, not just with words, but also with the sacrifice of his Son, the cardinal added that today, "in not wanting to accept suffering, the sacrifice that life brings, love is killed and what remains? Sexual possession. The capacity of suffering has been amputated because of fear, cowardice, mediocrity, because only success and pleasure are sought.
"We have killed the plant that arises from suffering, which is love, and therefore in many human relationships, family relationships, a totally material relationship arises, in which practically, the integrity of the person is not involved. When this materialism takes over human relationships, then the man and the woman become objects of a sexual experience […], this experience loses its stability, comes and goes, doesn't produce that joy of surrender because it does not come from suffering or sacrifice, and when a sickness comes or an economic problem or a fight … marriages break in the same way as these cases, like Lugo or Father Cutié, who in the moment of feeling a sacrifice greater than their strengths, break the promise they've made."
The cardinal affirmed that priests, as well as married people, are asked to live chastity.
"There is a conjugal chastity and there is chastity in celibacy," he said. "One who knows how to love and who has the experience of a healthy and stable matrimonial love knows what I'm talking about. It is the same that the Church offers to those of us who give up everything for the love of God. It is not more or less difficult, but this product of this love today is hard to find, and therefore, in a materialistic and slightly hedonistic world, it is difficult to explain celibacy, which is a treasure of the Church."
Obama's doctorate
ZENIT also asked Cardinal Cipriani what he thought of this month's turmoil over the decision by Notre Dame University to bestow an honorary doctorate on the U.S. president, despite Barack Obama's staunch support of abortion rights and other anti-life issues.
The cardinal answered that Catholic identity is not a decision of a particular university or a rector or education official, but rather is something given by the Church itself.
He explained: "What cannot be done and what is not done in any institution is to say 'this automobile is a Toyota,' if the Toyota manufacturer does not put his brand on it.
"I think there is a need for a little more clarity and authority. Clarity from those who are responsible for being able to say: 'If you don't want to be Catholic, then don't be.' But what we can't do is sell a ruined product. To think that parents and their kids go to a university that has the title of 'Catholic' and then it turns out that it teaches what is contrary to the faith. This is a confusion or an abuse. I think the Church has the duty to call things by their name."
Cardinal Cipriani said it seems a "provocation to give Catholic homage to a president who in the first 100 days has boosted abortion, gay marriage, investigations with embryonic cells, and an entire anti-life agenda. It does not seem to me that he is the most adequate person to receive recognition from the University of Notre Dame, which, by the way, has been greatly confused for some years now."
The prelate suggested that this type of controversy has been around since the beginning of the Church, with the difference that before, "those who dissented left the Church; today they stay within, and this seems to me that it requires of us, for love of the Church, a bit more firmness."
He offered the Holy Father as an example: "We see with what clarity and love for the truth Benedict XVI has returned from the Holy Land. With what joy, with what clarity he has taken up the themes that seemed difficult, from the political point of view, but he has handled them from the point of view of what a pilgrimage of peace wants, a vicar of Christ. They love him more and more. He is more and more a leader who illuminates more this world that is in darkness."
email this article | print this article | comment this article
Christians Gather for Peace Prayer in Holy Land
JERUSALEM, MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Christian communities of Jerusalem will gather this weekend to launch a campaign to promote prayer for reconciliation, unity and peace in the Holy Land.The first prayer event will take place Saturday evening in Jerusalem at the Syrian Orthodox Church of St Mark. It will be held in Aramaic and presided over by Archbishop Mar Swerios Malki Mourad, the Syrian Orthodox patriarchal vicar for Jerusalem.
The campaign is titled "Extraordinary Prayer of all Churches for Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, Beginning in and Proceeding From Jerusalem."
"All Christian communities of Jerusalem and all Christians everywhere in the world are invited to take part in this great intercessory prayer to the Father for our time," a statement on the event's Web site notes.
The campaign intends to host a prayer event once a month in various Churches, but encourages all Churches in the world to dedicate an hour each Saturday to praying for peace in the Holy Land.
"For the Christian, the division of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, profoundly conditions the general lack of peace," the organizers explain. "The Mother Church of Jerusalem calls, therefore, the whole Church to an extraordinary action of prayer for the grace of reconciliation, unity and peace, beginning in the Holy City."
--- --- ---
On the Net:
For more information: www.prayerreconciliationunitypeace.info/en/home
email this article | print this article | comment this article
Papal Address to Envoy From India
"Subsidiarity Both Presupposes and Fosters Individual Responsibility"ROME, MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI gave in writing today to Chitra Narayanan, the new ambassador from India to the Holy See.
* * *
Madam Ambassador,
I am pleased to welcome you today and to accept the Letters accrediting you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Holy See. Thanking you for the kind words which you have addressed to me in your own name and on behalf of the Government, I would ask to reciprocate my own respectful greetings to Her Excellency, Mrs Pratibha Patil, President of the Republic, and to the re-elected Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr Manmohan Singh, assuring them of my prayers for their well-being and for that of all the people of India.
India is a land fertile with ancient wisdom. Her people, representing many different religions and cultures, are sensitive to the need for self-awareness, integrity and harmonious coexistence with one's neighbor for overall personal and social well-being. The immense variety within your borders opens a range of possibilities for dialogue between philosophies and religious traditions intent upon probing life's deepest questions. Cultivating this dialogue not only enriches your own Nation but serves as an example to others throughout Asia and indeed throughout the world.
Notwithstanding the financial hardships currently facing the entire global community, India has made remarkable economic strides in recent years. Other nations have drawn inspiration from the diligence, human ingenuity and foresight which have contributed to your country's growth. Increased prosperity calls for heightened vigilance to ensure that the poor are protected from being exploited by the unbridled mechanisms of the economy which often tend to profit only an elite few. Hence the motive for your Country's ambitious rural jobs program which was designed to help the disadvantaged -- especially the rural poor -- to earn a subsistent wage by participating in building projects and other cooperative initiatives. Programs such as this show that labor is never a mere commodity but a specifically human activity. They must therefore be implemented in a way that upholds human dignity and repudiates any temptation to favoritism, corruption or fraud.
The principle of subsidiarity is of particular value in this regard. A society that allows subordinate organizations to perform their proper activities encourages citizens to take an active part in building up the common good, placing themselves at the service of others and committing themselves to resolving differences justly and peacefully. Subsidiarity both presupposes and fosters individual responsibility, enjoining all members of society to seek the good of others as their own. While bureaucratic structures are necessary, it must always be kept in mind that the various levels of governance -- national, regional, and local -- are oriented towards the service of citizens, as they themselves are administered by citizens.
Democratic systems of governance must be kept in check by broad social participation. Having recently completed an important round of national elections, India has shown the world that this key democratic process is not only possible, but can be conducted in an atmosphere of civility and peace. As the newly elected face the challenges ahead of them, I am confident that the same spirit of patient cooperation will prevail, sustaining them in their weighty responsibility of drafting laws and deliberating social policy. May they be ready to subordinate special interests, placing them within the wider context of the common good which is an essential and indispensable goal of political authority (cf. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 409).
Madam Ambassador, as Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Church, I join religious and governmental leaders throughout the world who share a common desire that all members of the human family enjoy the freedom to practice religion and engage in civil life without fear of adverse repercussions on account of their beliefs. I therefore cannot help but express my deep concern for Christians who have suffered from outbreaks of violence in some areas within your borders. Today I have the opportunity to express my appreciation for your Country's efforts to provide the afflicted with shelter and assistance, relief and rehabilitation, as well as for the measures taken to implement criminal investigations and fair judicial processes to resolve these issues. I appeal to all to show respect for human dignity by rejecting hatred and renouncing violence in all its forms.
For her part, the Catholic Church in your Country will continue to play a role promoting peace, harmony and reconciliation between followers of all religions, especially through education and formation in the virtues of justice, forbearance and charity. Indeed, this is the inherent goal of all genuine forms of education since -- in conformity with the dignity of the human person and the call of all men and women to live in community -- they aim at cultivating moral virtues and preparing young people to embrace their social responsibilities with a refined sensibility for what is good, just and noble.
Madam Ambassador, as you assume your responsibilities within the diplomatic community accredited to the Holy See, I offer you my good wishes for the successful fulfillment of your high mission. I assure you that the various offices and departments of the Roman Curia will always be ready to assist you. Upon yourself and upon the beloved people of India I invoke abundant divine blessings.
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
email this article | print this article | comment this article
Benedict XVI's Address to Mongolian Envoy
"Human Well-being Cannot Be Measured Solely in Terms of Wealth"ROME, MAY 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI gave in writing today to Danzannorov Boldbaatar, the new ambassador of Mongolia to the Holy See.
* * *
Your Excellency,
I am pleased to extend a cordial welcome to you as you present the Credential Letters appointing you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Holy See. Grateful for the warm greeting which you have conveyed to me on behalf of your President, Mr. Nambaryn Enkhbayar, I reciprocate with my own best wishes for his health and well-being. I assure him and all the citizens of Mongolia of my prayers as they continue to promote peace and social harmony at home and abroad.
I am grateful, Mr. Ambassador, that the cooperative spirit which has marked the diplomatic ties between Mongolia and the Holy See has yielded much fruit. An explicit and mutual recognition of the benefits to be gained through diplomatic relations paved the way for the establishment of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, thus making it possible to coordinate more effectively the pastoral care of Catholics in Mongolia and to give a new impetus to their charitable activities for the good of all your fellow citizens. A particular sign of this fruitful collaboration was the dedication of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in July of 2002, which took place on the auspicious occasion of the 10th Anniversary of diplomatic ties between Mongolia and the Holy See. I wish to voice personally my deep gratitude for all that your Government and the local civil authorities did to make this historic event possible. Not only did it help to build a sense of unity between the Catholic faithful in your land and their fellow believers throughout the world, it also bore clear witness to Mongolia's long-standing respect for religious freedom. This fundamental human right, enshrined in Mongolia's Constitution and upheld by its citizens as conducive to the full development of the human person, allows them to search for the truth, engage in dialogue and fulfill their duty to worship God immune from any undue coercion.
The opportunity for adherents of different religions to speak and listen to one another has a vital role in strengthening the human family. You have referred to the bold initiative of Chinggis Khan in the 13th century to invite Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Daoists to live together on the steppes of Mongolia: a gesture that continues to find expression in the openness of the Mongolian people, who treasure the religious customs passed down from generation to generation, and who show a profound respect for traditions other than their own. This religious earnestness was especially evident as Mongolia emerged from years of oppression under a totalitarian regime. In this time of greater peace and stability, I heartily encourage forums that facilitate the amicable exchange of ideas about religion and how it contributes to the good of civil society. Peoples who practice religious tolerance have an obligation to share the wisdom of this tenet with the entire human family, so that all men and women might perceive the beauty of tranquil co-existence and have the courage to build a society that respects human dignity and acts upon the divine injunction to love one's neighbor (cf. Mk 12:32).
Your Excellency, this spirit of fraternal cooperation will serve Mongolia well as she strives to achieve goals for development in the years ahead. As you have noted, foremost among these is the reduction of poverty and unemployment. These objectives are placed within the framework of the overall economic growth and equitable distribution of goods your country wishes to sustain in the long-term future. The values of fairness and trust in the marketplace upheld by the Mongolian people provide a sure foundation to meet these goals. Criteria for designing programmes to this end must reflect social as well as commutative justice (cf. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 303); they must take into account the objective value of work rendered, the dignity of the subjects who perform it, the varying needs of citizens, and the merit that justly corresponds to the quality of work done (cf. Centesimus Annus, 35).
Mongolia is a country which acknowledges that human well-being cannot be measured solely in terms of wealth. Educational achievement -- of which literary and artistic accomplishments are reliable indicators -- is also an essential feature of a flourishing society. I am appreciative that your country has singled out the need to expand educational opportunities for the betterment of all its people. Systems of instruction must not, of course, neglect the technological formation that enables students to acquire and maintain gainful employment in this age of rapid globalization and technological progress. At the same time, an integral education attends to man as a whole rather than simply his ability to produce. In particular, the young deserve a comprehensive intellectual and spiritual formation that opens their eyes to the dignity of every human person and inspires them to hone the virtues necessary to place themselves at the service of all mankind. I therefore encourage the initiatives undertaken by your Government to increase access to education and to buttress it with a clear view of what is genuinely good for human beings.
For its part, the Catholic community, though still small in Mongolia, is eager to offer its assistance in fostering interreligious dialogue, promoting development, expanding educational opportunities, and furthering the noble goals that strengthen the solidarity of the human family and turn its gaze to the action of the divine in the world. While recognizing the due autonomy of the political community, the Catholic Church is compelled to cooperate with civil society in ways suitable to the circumstances of the time and place in which the two find themselves living together.
I therefore thank you, Mr. Ambassador, for the kind assurance of Mongolia's desire to build upon the accomplishments that have sprung from the diplomatic relations forged between your nation and the Holy See. As you begin your mission, I assure you that the various offices of the Roman Curia are ready to assist you in the fulfillment of your duties, and I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God upon you, the members of your family and all the citizens of Mongolia.
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
email this article | print this article | comment this article
To see the rates for placing an ad in ZENIT's daily service, click here:
http://www.zenit.org/english/classified.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The best Catholic speakers on Cds and in books - only $3.00 ea.!!!
High quality, original and inspiring presentations by some of the very best Catholics such as Dr. Scott Hahn, Mother Teresa, Matthew Kelly, Bishop Sheen and Fr. John Corapi, and many more - all for only $3.00. A great way to share our incredible Faith with friends and family.
Mention this ad in the remarks and get a copy of "Our Catholic Faith" free! ($19.95 value).
http://www.cursillo-lighthousemedia.org/default.htm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
To see the rates for placing an ad in ZENIT's daily service, click here:
http://www.zenit.org/english/classified.html
ZENIT is an International News Agency.
For reprint permission: http://www.zenit.org/english/permissions.html
Visit our web page at http://www.zenit.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe: http://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html
To give a ZENIT gift subscription: http://www.zenit.org/english/gift.html
To make a donation to support ZENIT: http://www.zenit.org/english/donation.html
SEND US YOUR NEWS.
Please send press releases using: http://www.zenit.org/english/news.html
Copyright, Innovative Media, Inc.
0 comments:
Post a Comment