PUT NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY AT THE SERVICE OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2002 (VIS) - Msgr. Leo Boccardi, permanent observer of the Holy See to the International Organizations in Vienna, Austria, spoke on September 17 at the 46th session of the General Conference of the International Agency of Atomic Energy (IAEA) which concludes today.

Msgr. Boccardi affirmed that "it is very important to replace old technical equipments with modern ones that provide a higher level of safety, but it seems even more vital for a nuclear safety culture to increase the awareness of potential dangers which go with nuclear technologies. At the same time we have to follow attentively the situation in this regard in all Member States in order to prevent or eliminate, if there are some cases of it, double standards of protection and quality assurance for industrialized countries on the one hand, and developing ones on the other hand."

"The radiological protection of patients and caregivers has been for my Delegation a question of great importance. We are not getting tired in repeating that it the human person who is at the center of all scientific research and development. But this fundamental principle does not exclude the problem of environment protection and the question of the impact of nuclear technologies, notably ionizing radiation, on it."

The permanent observer to the IAEA indicated that "the assistance granted in the fields of medicine, particularly for cancer treatment, diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine, helps numerous people in those regions where the modern forms of diagnosis and medical treatment are on a large scale not yet available and where especially the rural population has scarcely any access to it."

At the end of the speech, Msgr. Boccardi expressed his desire that the IAEA put nuclear technology "at the service of sustainable development, peace and well-being of the entire human family."

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SPECIAL BROADCAST FOR 25TH CHRISTMAS OF JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2002 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Social Communications announced today that the 25th Christmas during the pontificate of John Paul II will be celebrated with several events that will be broadcast around the world.

For this occasion, choirs from all over the world have been invited to sing Christmas carols. The program will begin at 11 a.m. Rome time and will continue for 24 hours. At noon the "Urbi et Orbi" message and blessing will be transmitted, along with traditional Christmas greetings by the Holy Father in more than 60 languages.

The communique ends by indicating that bishops from around the world have been asked to invite choirs from their dioceses to participate in this broadcast which may be followed on cable and satellite television as well as on the internet. Choirs that wish to participate can find information on the following web site: www.vaticanchristmas2002.com.

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ARCHBISHOP MARTIN: PROMOTE A MULTI-GENERATIONAL SOCIETY

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2002 (VIS) - "The elderly, active protagonists in society," was the title of the speech delivered by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on September 12 in Berlin, Germany during the European Ministerial Conference on Ageing which is being sponsored by the United Nations Economic Conference for Europe.

The archbishop, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and Specialized Institutions in Geneva, began his speech by emphasizing that "too often today, longevity and ageing are classified as problems," when in reality they are "a gift of God, to be enjoyed and utilized fruitfully."

Afterward, he recalled that institutions in society must guarantee that an adequate framework exists for people so that when they get old they can continue to be active protagonists. "We have not yet taken fully into consideration the broad significance of the demographic changes which will arise from increased longevity in Europe."

"Changes in family patterns in many European countries have led to a greater isolation of older people," the archbishop explained. He added that current individualist philosophy which has resulted in the drop in birth rates and has caused families "to take less into account the responsibility of families towards the future of society ... can reduce the capacity of the family to carry out its role in inter-generational society."

"It is difficult to establish the correct balance between a stress on the individual's right to personal fulfillment and the obligation of solidarity," he continued. He went on to advocate social policy "structured in such a way that inter-generational solidarity ... is not rendered impossible because [it is] too costly."

"The fact of widespread and growing longevity will demand not just structural changes in our societies but also in the choices of persons," said Archbishop Martin. He emphasized that in order to ensure that "older people are facilitated in remaining autonomous and active for the longest possible periods, greater stress should be placed on educational structures ... which provide intellectual stimulus and address also the particular spiritual needs of older people."

"The program of action proposed by this Conference," he concluded, "stresses the need to foster a more positive image of older people. We must recognize our societies as multi-generational societies, to which older people belong not just on the margins. Social recognition should not be linked solely to economic productivity. The inalienable dignity of each older person does not depend on his or her apparent utility."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, apostolic nuncio in Angola, Sao Tome and Principe.
- Archbishop Peter Paul Prabhu, apostolic nuncio.
- Four prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (West 1 & 2) on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Bruno Pedron, S.D.B., of Jardim.
- Bishop Protogenes Jose Luft, S.C., of Barra do Garcas.
- Bishop Milton Antonio dos Santos, S.D.B., of Corumba.
- Bishop Redovino Rizzardo, C.S., of Dourados.

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