GLOBALIZATION MUST BENEFIT THE ENTIRE HUMAN FAMILY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 2, 2003 (VIS) - John Paul II this morning welcomed members of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, who are meeting in Rome for their plenary session. Noting that their theme is"The Governance of Globalization," he said he hoped their work "will help to shed light on how globalization may best be guided and regulated for the benefit of the entire human family."

The Pope began his address in English by stating that "the processes by which capital, goods, information, technology and knowledge are exchanged and circulate throughout the world today often elude the traditional mechanisms of regulatory control put in place by national governments and international agencies. Special interests and the demands of the market frequently predominate over concern for the common good. This tends to leave the weaker members of society without adequate protection and can subject entire peoples and cultures to a formidable struggle for survival.

"Moreover, it is disturbing to witness a globalization that exacerbates the conditions of the needy, that does not sufficiently contribute to resolving situations of hunger, poverty and social inequality, that fails to safeguard the natural environment. These aspects of globalization can give rise to extreme reactions, leading to excessive nationalism, religious fanaticism and even acts of terrorism."

The Pope underscored that "all of this is far-removed from the concept of an ethically responsible globalization capable of treating all peoples as equal partners and not as passive instruments." He said it thus becomes clear that "globalization in itself is not the problem. Rather, difficulties arise from the lack of effective mechanisms for giving it proper direction. ... This goal cannot be achieved without guidance from the international community and adequate regulation on the part of the worldwide political establishment."

"In fact, in my Message for the 2003 World Day of Peace," the Holy Father said in closing, "I remarked that now is the time 'to work together for a new constitutional organization of the human family', an organization that would be in a position to meet the new demands of a globalized world. This does not mean creating a 'global super-State', but continuing the processes already underway."

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