POPE SPEAKS ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF SCIENCES TO DEVELOPMENT

VATICAN CITY, MAR 12, 1999 (VIS) - In his talk today to members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope invited "the scientific community to pursue its research to make better known the causes of imbalances linked to nature and to mankind, so as to prevent them and to propose substitute solutions to untenable situations."

The Holy Father was addressing academy members at the start of the study week they promoted on the contribution of science to world development.

Speaking of the "growing damages caused by modern civilization to people, the habitat, climatic and agricultural conditions," he affirmed that "human behavior is often the source of serious ecological imbalances, with particularly harmful and disastrous consequences in different countries and in the world as a whole."

"It is man's responsibility," he pointed out, "to limit the risks to creation, through special attention to the natural milieu." Development must "be at the service of peoples. ... Unfortunately certain economic and political considerations and matters too often take precedent over respect for the milieu."

Citing his Encyclical "Sollicitudo Rei Socialis," John Paul II said: "'The mere accumulation of goods and services, even for the benefit of the majority, is not enough for the realization of human happiness'. Likewise, the concentration of economic and political power which answers to particular interests creates centers of power which often act to the detriment of the interests of the international community."

"It is more important than ever to set into place a world political, economic and juridical order which is based on clear moral rules, so that international relations have as their objective the search for the common good, while avoiding phenomena of corruption which gravely harms individuals and peoples, and no longer tolerating the creation of unjust privileges and advantages in favor of the richest countries or social groups."

Public leaders, said the Pope, should give particular attention to young people, especially through apprenticeships, and to developing countries and societies. "The strategies adopted ... must have as their primary objective the well-being of persons and peoples." Initiatives must be "founded on a disinterested solidarity"and "be based on a conception of the world which has man at its center and which knows how to respect the various historical and environment conditions, thus allowing for lasting development."

"Individuals sometimes have the impression that their single decisions have little effect on a national scale," said Pope John Paul in conclusion. "However, we must recall that the Creator placed man in creation. ... Thus, we can be assured that the smallest good deed done by one person has a mysterious bearing on social transformation."

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