ECONOMIC CHOICES MUST RESPOND TO HUMAN ASPIRATIONS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 9, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received the members of the Council of the Administration of France's "Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole," who are in Rome on a working visit. The Pope thanked them for their solidarity shown with regard to the poorest countries of the world.

Referring to the international debt of the poor countries, the Holy Father affirmed that it "constitutes an enormous obstacle to the process of growth of many nations, since the debt compromises the local economy and the integral development of people, endangering the life of families and the future of society."

John Paul II exhorted those present to "base your decisions upon a Christian vision of man and of humanity, in order to contribute effectively to the building of a world where political choices and economic options authentically respond to the most profound aspirations of the new generations."

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