VATICAN CITY, 6 JUL 2008 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus today, the Pope recalled that tomorrow, 7 July, heads of State of the G8 nations, accompanied by other world leaders, will meet in Japan for their annual summit.
"Over recent days", said the Holy Father, "many voices have been raised - among them those of the presidents of episcopal conferences in the countries concerned - to call for the implementation of commitments assumed at earlier G8 meetings, and for the courageous adoption of all measures necessary to defeat the scourges of extreme poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy which still affect such a large part of humankind.
"I too add my voice to this urgent appeal for solidarity!" Pope Benedict cried. "I address myself, then, to participants in the meeting in Hokkaido-Tokyo, that they may focus their deliberations on the needs of the weakest and poorest peoples, whose vulnerability is greater today because of speculation and financial turbulence and their perverse effects on the cost of food and energy. I hope that generosity and farsightedness may help make decisions aimed at re-launching a just process of integral development, in order to safeguard human dignity".
Turning then to address a group of children participating in the 2008 International Festival of Child Artists organised by the Soong Ching Ling Foundation of Italy, the Holy Father said: "Love, harmony and solidarity are the values you wish to promote in China and in other countries of the would. Art and culture can unite peoples. Children represent the future of the human family and, for that reason, are called to build a more beautiful and more humane world. Your presence gives me the chance to send my hopes for peace and joy to all your contemporaries in China and in the world".
ANG/CHILDREN G8/... VIS 20080707 (310)
"Over recent days", said the Holy Father, "many voices have been raised - among them those of the presidents of episcopal conferences in the countries concerned - to call for the implementation of commitments assumed at earlier G8 meetings, and for the courageous adoption of all measures necessary to defeat the scourges of extreme poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy which still affect such a large part of humankind.
"I too add my voice to this urgent appeal for solidarity!" Pope Benedict cried. "I address myself, then, to participants in the meeting in Hokkaido-Tokyo, that they may focus their deliberations on the needs of the weakest and poorest peoples, whose vulnerability is greater today because of speculation and financial turbulence and their perverse effects on the cost of food and energy. I hope that generosity and farsightedness may help make decisions aimed at re-launching a just process of integral development, in order to safeguard human dignity".
Turning then to address a group of children participating in the 2008 International Festival of Child Artists organised by the Soong Ching Ling Foundation of Italy, the Holy Father said: "Love, harmony and solidarity are the values you wish to promote in China and in other countries of the would. Art and culture can unite peoples. Children represent the future of the human family and, for that reason, are called to build a more beautiful and more humane world. Your presence gives me the chance to send my hopes for peace and joy to all your contemporaries in China and in the world".
ANG/CHILDREN G8/... VIS 20080707 (310)
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