Monday, July 30, 2007

PROMOTE NUCLEAR NON PROLIFERATION

VATICAN CITY, JUL 29, 2007 (VIS) - Shortly before midday today, Benedict XVI greeted faithful gathered in the internal courtyard of the apostolic palace in Castelgandolfo in order to pray the Angelus with them. The Pope will be staying at his Castelgandolfo residence until the end of the summer.

  Before the Marian prayer, the Pope recalled "the tranquil days" of his recent stay in Lorenzago di Cadore and thanked everyone involved in organizing his holiday in that mountain resort. He also expressed his thanks to the inhabitants of Castelgandolfo for their "cordiality" and "discretion" during his stay there.

  Benedict XVI then went on to refer to the 50th anniversary of the coming into effect of the Statue of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), instituted with the mandate to "encourage and increase the contribution of atomic energy to the cause of peace, health and prosperity throughout the world." The Pope recalled how the Holy See has been a member of the IAEA since its foundation, "fully approves its aims, ... and continues to support its activities.

  "The great changes of the last 50 years," he added, "highlight how, at the difficult crossroads humanity currently faces, there exists an ever more pressing and urgent need for commitment to encourage the non proliferation of nuclear arms, and to promote progressive ... nuclear disarmament in favor of the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technology for authentic development respectful of the environment and ever attentive to the most disadvantaged."

  The Pope expressed his hope that the efforts of people working to achieve these ends would prove successful, so that "the resources saved in this way may be used in development projects in favor of all people and, primarily, of the poorest."

  "It should in fact be recalled," he concluded, "that 'the arms race ... must be substituted [by] a common effort to mobilize resources towards objectives of moral, cultural and economic development, redefining the priorities and hierarchies of values'."
ANG/DISARMAMENT/...                        VIS 20070730 (330)


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