Subject: VISnews 110609
Organization: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 108
ENGLISH
THURSDAY, 9 JUNE 2011
SUMMARY:
- Human Ecology is an Imperative
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
HUMAN ECOLOGY IS AN IMPERATIVE
VATICAN CITY, 9 JUN 2011 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received the
credential letters of six new ambassadors to the Holy See: Stefan Gorda of
Moldavia, Narciso Ntugu Abeso Oyana of Equatorial Guinea, Henry Llewellyn
Lawrence of Belize, Hussan Edin Aala of Syria, Genevieve Delali Tsegah of
Ghana, and George Robert Furness Troup of New Zealand.
The Holy Father gave one speech addressing all the new diplomats and then
gave letters to each individually, which addressed the specific nations they
represent.
In his introductory speech, referring to the "innumerable tragedies that
have affected nature, technology, and the peoples" in the first semester of
this year, Benedict XVI noted that "the States should reflect together on
the short term future of the planet, on our responsibilities regarding our
life and technology".
"Human ecology", he emphasized, "is an imperative. Adopting a lifestyle
that respects our environment and supports the research and use of clean
energies that preserve the patrimony of creation and that are safe for human
beings should be given political and economic priority".
The Pope highlighted that "a change in mentality" is necessary in order to
"quickly arrive at a global lifestyle that respects the covenant between
humanity and nature, without which the human family risks disappearing. ...
Every government must commit themselves to protecting nature and assisting
it to carry out its essential role in the survival of humanity. The United
Nations seem to be the natural framework for this type of reflection, which
should not be obscured by blindly partisan political or economic interests
in order to give preference to solidarity over particular interests".
"It is also helpful to ask ourselves", he continued, "about the
appropriate role of technology" because "believing it is the exclusive agent
of progress or happiness carries a reification of humanity that leads to
blindness and misery. ... Technology that dominates human beings deprives
them of their humanity. The pride that it generates has created an
impossible economism in our societies as well as a hedonism that
subjectively and selfishly regulates behavior. The debilitation of the
primacy of the human person provokes a loss of the meaning of life".
Benedict noted that "it is urgent that we match technology with a strong
ethical dimension. ... Technology should help nature develop along the lines
envisioned by the Creator. In working together, the researcher and the
scientist adhere to God's plan that desired humanity as the apex and the
administrator of creation. Solutions based on this principle will protect
human life and its vulnerability, as well as the rights of the present and
future generations".
"The governments should promote a humanism that respects the spiritual and
religious dimension of human persons. The dignity of the human person does
not vary with changes in opinion. Respecting human aspirations to justice
and peace allow the construction of a society that promotes itself when it
sustains the family or when it refuses, for example, the exclusive primacy
of finance".
The Pope concluded by drawing attention to the fact that "social life
should be considered, above all, as a reality of the spiritual order.
Politicians in charge have the mission of guiding persons to human harmony
and the wisdom they so desire, which should culminate in religious freedom,
a true sign of peace".
In his letter to the ambassador of Moldavia, after supporting their bid
for entry into the "common European house", the Pope expressed his pleasure
of Syria's "juridical recognition of the Catholic Church, its progressive
organization, and the construction of new churches, including the cathedral.
These are acts that demonstrate the excellence of the dialogue and
collaboration between the civil institutions and the Catholic Church". At
the same time, the Holy Father invited the Moldavian authorities to resolve
some problems remaining from the past and to "find satisfactory, just, and
equitable solutions regarding confiscated ecclesiastic patrimony in order to
allow the Catholic Church to provide the means to carry out her mission, not
only in the religious sphere but also the educational, health, and
charitable ones".
"In perfecting a society and in implementing new structures capable of
giving it a more flexible character, the encouraging presence of the Church
is not absent to the sons and daughters of Equatorial Guinea, instilling the
light of faith in Christ", Benedict XVI wrote to the nation's ambassador.
"The efforts carried out to recuperate and restructure many places of
worship", he added, "must be noted with great satisfaction. Also noteworthy
are the business initiatives for improving living conditions of the
citizens, especially those who experience great difficulty living in a
dignified way".
In his letter to the diplomatic representative of Belize, the pontiff
emphasized that "freedom of religion and freedom of worship allow believers
to flourish as individuals and to contribute positively and fully to the
life of the country in every sphere of human activity. May your country,
Mr. Ambassador, be an example in this regard to its neighbors and to those
who would seek to diminish the consequences of such rights and their
corresponding values!".
"Syria has traditionally been an example of tolerance, concord, and
harmonious relations between Christians and Muslims and today the ecumenical
and interreligious relations are good", the Pope wrote to the Syrian
ambassador, then observing that "the events of the past months in some
nearby Mediterranean countries, Syria among them, demonstrate the desire for
a better future in the areas of political, economic, and social life.
Nevertheless, it is greatly desirable that this evolution not take place in
a climate of intolerance, discrimination, or conflict and, sill less, of
violence but rather in a climate of absolute respect for the truth, for
co-existence, for the legitimate rights of the person and the collective,
and of reconciliation. These are the principles that should guide the
authorities, keeping always in mind the aspiration of civil society and
international directives".
In his letter to the ambassador of Ghana, the Holy Father spoke of the
capacity the country has shown to rapidly "overcome certain obstacles in
order to make steady economic, social and political progress". He hoped that
this process "be crowned by the positive outcome of the ongoing
constitutional consultation, in such a way that the nation's legislative and
administrative framework will consolidate a culture of responsible and
active participation in the development of the country in freedom, justice
and solidarity".
Finally, the Pope expressed his solidarity with those affected by the
earthquake that struck Christchurch last 22 February in his letter to the
representative of New Zealand and noted that "due to its geographical
position ... some neighboring countries, including the Small Island
Developing States, look to New Zealand as an example of political stability,
rule of law and high economic and social standards. ... This gives your
country a particular moral responsibility. Faithful to the best of its
traditions, New Zealand is called to use its position of influence for the
peace and stability of the region, the encouragement of mature and stable
democratic institutions, and the fostering of authentic human rights and
sustainable economic development".
CD/ VIS
20110609 (1160)
AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 9 JUN 2011 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate
audiences:
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for
Bishops.
- Mr. Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa, the ambassador of Brazil to the Holy
See, with his wife, on his farewell visit.
- Four prelates from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India on their
"ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Malayappan Chinnappa, S.D.B., of Madras and Mylapore, with
Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence Pius Dorairaj.
- Archbishop Peter Fernando, of Madurai.
- Archbishop Antony Anandarayar, of Pondicherry and Cuddalore.
AP:AL/ VIS 20110609
(90)
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 9 JUN 2011 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father appointed Bishop John
Doaninoel, S.M., auxiliary of the archdiocese of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea,
as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Honiara (area 10,728, population
235,136, Catholics 53,378, priests 41, religious 110), Solomon Islands.
NER/ VIS 20110609 (40)
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