PERU: SATISFY BASIC NEEDS OF THE POOR

VATICAN CITY, DEC 7, 2004 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received the Letters of Credence of the new ambassador of the Republic of Peru, Pablo Moran Val.  The Pope told him that religious life in the country "is a very clear sign of how the vitality of faith can continue to sustain the courageous efforts of a noble people who strive for progress without denying the authentic roots of their Christian identity."

  "The Catholic faith, professed by the great majority of the population in your country," he said, "stimulates, out of its own dynamism, individual and social conduct of great vision, while promoting - when there is no separation between life and faith - a life without inconsistencies or ruptures, and leaving aside the temptation to resort to violence, selfishness or corruption. The Church, faithful to her mission, offers guidance in order to confront modern ethical challenges."

  After emphasizing the need to defend civic values, the Holy Father indicated that "we must not forget that these values will be respected when they are based on the ethical and moral values of honesty and effective solidarity, in such a way that unfair social inequalities and personal and social individualism, that impede the complete fulfillment of the common good, may be corrected."

  John Paul underscored that "satisfying the basic needs of the poor and those who are excluded from society must be considered a fundamental priority since the accelerated transformations of the international economy have placed many in an almost desperate situation. In the face of this problem, the Church ... remains close to the many families and people who are living today the inhumane consequences of this circumstance."

  Among the measures taken by the government, the Pope said that "the defense of human life and the family, today so threatened by a mistaken concept of modernity and freedom in so many parts, must be included."

  He concluded by referring to the large Peruvian community that has emigrated to other countries in order to find "better living conditions." He said that they "must feel committed to bringing solutions to the country where they were born and which still considers them its sons and daughters despite the distance."
CD/CREDENTIALS/PERU:MORAN                        VIS 20041207 (380)