ELDERLY MUST RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND SOCIETY

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2002 (VIS) - Made public yesterday afternoon was the Pope's Message to participants in the Second World Assembly on Ageing which is taking place in Madrid, Spain from April 8 through 12.

The Holy Father writes that "a society shows itself just to the extent that it meets the needs of all its members." He went on to ask: "How can we guarantee the endurance of a society which is ageing, and safeguard the social security of older persons and their quality of life?"

"In responding to this question," he continues, "we must not be guided chiefly by economic criteria; rather, we must be inspired by sound moral principles. In the first place, the elderly must be considered in their dignity as persons, which does not diminish with the passing years nor with physical and mental deterioration. ... Experience shows that when this positive view breaks down older people are quickly marginalized and condemned to a loneliness which is a kind of social death. And does not the self-esteem of older people depend in large part on how they are viewed in the family and in society?"

John Paul II affirms that the "effective inclusion" of the elderly in society with their experience, knowledge and wisdom entails "helping to solve the problems connected with ageing."

Furthermore, he adds, formative programs are necessary to educate people about ageing in order that they may adapt to changes in life-style and work.

The Pope underlines that in moments of suffering and dependence, the elderly "not only need to be cared for with scientific and technical means but also to be looked after with efficiency and love, so that they do not feel that they are a useless burden or what is worse reach the point of wanting and asking for death. Our civilization must guarantee to older people care which is rich in humanity and inspired by true values."

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CREATE SYSTEMS OF SOLIDARITY THAT DO NOT IMPOVERISH ANYONE

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II received today the participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences who are reflecting on the subjects of democracy and globalization, as well as solidarity among the generations.

"The growing interdependence among people, families, companies and nations, as well as economies and markets - what we call globalization - has overturned the system of interaction and public relations." This has had positive consequences, but also has caused inequalities among economies and peoples in such a way that we must reconsider the question of solidarity."

The Pope said that "it is up to the political and economic leaders to do everything possible so that globalization does not work against those who have fewer resources or are weaker, increasing even more the gap between rich and poor, between rich and poor nations." He invited leaders to create systems of solidarity that "take into consideration the changes caused by globalization and that prevent these phenomena from impoverishing important sectors of some groups of people, and sometimes entire nations."

"Social solidarity," he continued, "means to depart from the simple search for particular interests. ... We must educate the younger generations in a spirit of solidarity and a true culture of openness to the universal and attention toward all peoples, regardless of race, culture or religion."
The Holy Father emphasized that politicians must "regulate the markets, subject the laws of the markets to the laws of solidarity, in order to prevent imbalances in peoples and society caused by all kinds of economic changes, and protect these laws from upheaval as a result of the deregulation of markets."

He concluded by saying: "May the humanity of today, on its way to greater unity, solidarity and peace, transmit to future generations the goods of creation and hopes for a better future!"

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JOHN PAUL II WELCOMES NEW AMBASSADOR FROM YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2002 (VIS) - Pope John Paul today welcomed Darko Tanaskovic and accepted his Letters of Credence as the new ambassador of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Holy See.

The Pope spoke to the ambassador about the rebuilding of Yugoslavia after a conflict that left "material and moral damage." He highlighted the "need for reconciliation within Yugoslavia itself, so that all may work together, with respect for one another's differences, to rebuild society and the common good." He also underscored the "need to put aside ethnic and nationalistic introversion and to further build a Nation whose democratic institutions ... ensure that all its peoples, especially the minorities, are active and equal participants in the political and economic life of their communities."
The Holy Father affirmed the importance of rejecting violence in a process of reconciliation. "Your own country has known better than most through its history that violence begets more violence, and that dialogue alone can break that death-dealing spiral."

He noted that "cultural differences have often been a source of misunderstanding between peoples" but he stressed that "there are values which are common to all cultures, ... universal values (such as) solidarity, peace, life and education."

"The Catholic Church," the Pope said, "faithful to the spiritual and ethical principles of her universal mission, seeks to promote not some narrow ideological or national interest but the full development of all peoples, with particular attention to and solidarity with those most in need."

In closing, John Paul II noted that "in a situation such as the one you face, religion is not the root of the problem, but an essential part of its solution." He expressed his pleasure that "religious education has been re-introduced in Serbian schools, for it provides a special opportunity to teach the young those universal values which are rooted in the nature of the person and ultimately in God."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Bolivia on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Jesus Juarez Parraga S.D.B. of El Alto.
- Bishop Juan Vargas Aruquipa of Coroico.
- Bishop Walter Perez Villamonte of Potosi.
- Bishop Toribio Ticona Porco of Corocoro.

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