Subject: VISnews 111215
Organization: VIS
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 220
ENGLISH
THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2011
SUMMARY:
- Solidarity Is the Driving Force for Integral Development
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
SOLIDARITY IS THE DRIVING FORCE FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT
VATICAN CITY, 15 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, the Holy Father
received the Letters of Credence of eleven new non-resident ambassadors to
the Holy See: Margaret Allison King-Rousseau of Trinidad and Tobago, Hilia
Garez Gomes Lima Barber of Guinea Bissau, Paul Widmer of Switzerland,
Anatole Bacanamwo of Burundi, Arbhorn Manasvanich of Thailand, Muhammad
Saleem of Pakistan, Amadeu Paulo Samuel da Conceicao of Mozambique, Tolendy
Makeyev of Kyrgyzstan, Jaume Serra Serra of Andorra, Tamara Kunanayakam of
Sri Lanka and Joseph Pare of Burkina Faso.
The Holy Father addressed the diplomats as a group, focusing his remarks
on the theme of solidarity as a mainstay for the integral development of
peoples.
"In our time the unity of the human family is an undeniable fact", the
Holy Father explained. "Thanks to the communications media which bring all
regions of the planet together, transport which facilitates human contacts,
commercial ties which make economies interdependent, and problems of global
importance such as environmental protection and mass migration, human beings
have become more aware of their shared destiny. ... Mankind must see this
interdependency not as a threat but as an opportunity. We are all
responsible for one another, therefore it is important to maintain a
positive vision of solidarity because it is the driving force of integral
human development".
In this context, Benedict XVI highlighted "intergenerational solidarity"
which has its roots in the family. Concern for education and for the destiny
of future generations is "a significant contribution to the perception of
the unity of the human race", he said.
"Shared responsibility" for the good of humankind is not opposed to
cultural and religious diversity, the Holy Father went on. "The pluralism of
cultures and religions does not contradict the joint search for truth,
goodness and beauty. ... The Church, illuminated and upheld by the light of
the Revelation, encourages men and women to entrust themselves to a reason
which, purified by faith, ... becomes capable of seeing beyond partisan
interests in order to discern the universal good necessary to all human
beings: social and religious harmony and peace. These are goals for which
everyone strives and which require not just an appropriate legislative
framework, but also the high moral stature of all citizens, because
solidarity has two complementary aspects: social principle and moral
virtue".
Solidarity fulfils its role of "social virtue" when it is founded on
"structures of subsidiarity and on each individual's firm and unrelenting
determination to work for the common good. ... The new challenges your
countries are facing require a mobilisation of human intellect and
creativity, in order to fight against poverty and to make a more effective
and rational use of available resources and energy. ... Increasing people's
sense of responsibility also involves protecting human dignity against any
attempt to circumscribe it".
"Justice and solidarity", the Pope concluded, "cannot be separated from
the concept of the integral development of the person. In this sense,
highlighting the primacy of the spirit is not only the responsibility of
religions, but also of States which must implement cultural policies that
promote universal access to the things of the spirit, emphasise the
importance of social relationships and never hinder human beings in their
free search for spirituality".
CD/ VIS
20111215 (550)
AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 15 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in
audience:
- Archbishop James Patrick Green, apostolic nuncio to Peru.
- Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris and president of the
Conference of Bishops of France, accompanied by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of
Lille and Archbishop Hippolyte Simon of Clermont, vice presidents, and by
Msgr. Antoine Herouard, secretary general.
- Yves Gazzo, head of the delegation to the Holy See of the Commission of
the European Communities, on his farewell visit.
AP/ VIS
20111215 (90)
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 15 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Archbishop Andre Dupuy, apostolic nuncio to the European Union and the
Principality of Andorra, as apostolic nuncio to the Netherlands.
- Archbishop Marek Solczynski, apostolic nuncio to Georgia, also as
apostolic nuncio to Armenia.
NN/ VIS
20111215 (50)
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