PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION REQUIRES ETHICAL DISCERNMENT

VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received the members of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, on the occasion of their annual meeting, which was held in Rome this year.

The Pope emphasized that the process of globalization, "while opening up new possibilities for progress, poses urgent questions regarding the very nature and purpose of economic activity. It calls for ethical discernment aimed at protecting the environment and promoting the full human development of millions of men and women, in a way that respects every individual's dignity and makes room for personal creativity in the workplace.

"It is my hope and prayer that your association, by advancing these eminently human goals, will enable future generations to enjoy a prosperity which is not merely economic but spiritual as well, corresponding to the deepest aspirations of the human heart."

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