PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 16, 2002 (VIS) - Pope John Paul today received the members of the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. "Pursue with renewed zeal," he said, "your relations with cultures, in order to create bridges among men, to witness to Christ and to make our brothers receptive to the Gospel."

The Pope highlighted how, in 1993, this pontifical council and the Council for Dialogue with Non-believers were joined as one council with the goals of promoting "the study of the problems of non-belief and religious indifference present in various forms in various cultural milieux" and helping the Church "in the evangelization of cultures and the inculturation of the Gospel."

The Holy Father noted that cultural milieux today "are often strangers to any spiritual or interior dimensions" and exist "in situations basically dominated by material aspects. Now, more than in any other period of history, there is without doubt a rupture in the process of transmission of moral and religious values between generations, which leads to a sort of heterogeneity between the Church and the modern world."

John Paul II underscored how families and educational institutions encounter special difficulties in their "heavy task of transmitting to younger generations the human, moral and spiritual values that will allow them to become men and women anxious to lead worthy personal lives and to engage in the life of society."

He likewise emphasized that "the phenomenon of globalization, which today has become a cultural fact, constitutes both a difficulty and an opportunity." Difficulties occur when there is an oversimplification or levelling of cultures, communities and ethnic identities, giving all equal value. A positive side occurs when globalization "lowers barriers among cultures and offers persons occasions to meet and become acquainted." He urged the leaders of nations "to respect what is proper to individuals and cultures in order to guarantee the good of persons and peoples."

"The Church," the Pope concluded, "does not seek to take the place of those in charge of public affairs, but she does hope to have her own place in debating questions."

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