Vatican
City, 7 January 2013
(VIS) - This morning in the Sala Regia of the Vatican Apostolic
Palace, Pope Benedict pronounced his traditional annual address to
members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. Before
making his remarks, the Pope was greeted by Ambassador Alejandro
Emilio Valladares Lanza of Honduras, dean of the diplomatic corps,
then received the greetings of the ambassadors as a whole formulated
in a speech delivered by Ambassador Jean-Claude Michel of the
Principality of Monaco, vice dean.
The
Holy See currently maintains full diplomatic relations with 179
States, as well as the European Union and the Sovereign Military
Order of Malta. It also has relations of a special nature with the
Palestine Liberation Organisation.
Furthermore,
the Holy See has observer-State status at the United Nations, as well
as being a member of seven organisations and agencies of the UN
system, observer in eight others, and member or observer in five
regional organisations.
Ample
extracts of the Holy Father's address follow below:
...
"Civil and political authorities before all others have a grave
responsibility to work for peace. They are the first called to
resolve the numerous conflicts causing bloodshed in our human family,
beginning with that privileged region in God’s plan, the Middle
East. I think first and foremost of Syria, torn apart by endless
slaughter and the scene of dreadful suffering among its civilian
population. I renew my appeal for a ceasefire and the inauguration as
quickly as possible of a constructive dialogue aimed at putting an
end to a conflict which will know no victors but only vanquished if
it continues, leaving behind it nothing but a field of ruins. Your
Excellencies, allow me to ask you to continue to make your
Governments aware of this, so that essential aid will urgently be
made available to face this grave humanitarian situation. I now turn
with deep concern towards the Holy Land. Following Palestine’s
recognition as a Non-Member Observer State of the United Nations, I
again express the hope that, with the support of the international
community, Israelis and Palestinians will commit themselves to
peaceful coexistence within the framework of two sovereign states,
where respect for justice and the legitimate aspirations of the two
peoples will be preserved and guaranteed. Jerusalem, become what your
name signifies! A city of peace and not of division; a prophecy of
the Kingdom of God and not a byword for instability and opposition!".
"As
I turn my thoughts towards the beloved Iraqi people, I express my
hope that they will pursue the path of reconciliation in order to
arrive at the stability for which they long".
"In
Lebanon, where last September I met the various groups which make up
society, may the many religious traditions there be cultivated by all
as a true treasure for the country and for the whole region, and may
Christians offer an effective witness for the building of a future of
peace, together with all men and women of good will!".
"In
North Africa too, cooperation between all the members of society is
of primary concern, and each must be guaranteed full citizenship, the
liberty publicly to profess their religion and the ability to
contribute to the common good. I assure all Egyptians of my closeness
and my prayers at this time when new institutions are being set in
place".
"Turning
to sub-Saharan Africa, I encourage the efforts being made to build
peace, especially in those places where the wounds of war remain open
and where their grave humanitarian consequences are being felt. I
think particularly of the Horn of Africa, and the East of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, where new of acts of violence have
erupted, forcing many people to abandon their homes, families and
surroundings. Nor can I fail to mention other threats looming on the
horizon. Nigeria is regularly the scene of terrorist attacks which
reap victims above all among the Christian faithful gathered in
prayer, as if hatred intended to turn temples of prayer and peace
into places of fear and division. I was deeply saddened to learn
that, even in the days when we celebrated Christmas, some Christians
were barbarously put to death. Mali is also torn by violence and
marked by a profound institutional and social crisis, one which calls
for the effective attention of the international community. In the
Central African Republic, I hope that the talks announced as taking
place shortly will restore stability and spare the people from
reliving the throes of civil war".
"The
building of peace always comes about by the protection of human
beings and their fundamental rights. This task, even if carried out
in many ways and with varying degrees of intensity, challenges all
countries and must constantly be inspired by the transcendent dignity
of the human person and the principles inscribed in human nature.
Foremost among these is respect for human life at every stage. In
this regard, I was gratified that a resolution of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, in January of last year, called
for the prohibition of euthanasia, understood as the intentional
killing by act or omission of a dependent human being. At the same
time, I must note with dismay that, in various countries, even those
of Christian tradition, efforts are being made to introduce or expand
legislation which decriminalizes abortion. Direct abortion, that is
to say willed as an end or as a means, is gravely contrary to the
moral law. In affirming this, the Catholic Church is not lacking in
understanding and mercy, also towards the mother involved. Rather, it
is a question of being vigilant lest the law unjustly alter the
balance between the right to life of the mother and that of the
unborn child, a right belonging equally to both. In this area, the
recent decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights regarding
in vitro fertilization, which arbitrarily redefines the moment of
conception and weakens the defence of unborn life, is also a source
of concern".
...
"The European Union also requires far-sighted representatives
capable of making the difficult choices necessary to rectify its
economy and to lay solid foundations for growth. Alone, certain
countries may perhaps advance more quickly, but together, all will
certainly go further! If the differential index between financial
taxes represents a source of concern, the increasing differences
between those few who grow ever richer and the many who grow
hopelessly poorer, should be a cause for dismay. In a word, it is a
question of refusing to be resigned to a 'spread' in social
well-being, while at the same time fighting one in the financial
sector".
"Investment
in education in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin
America means helping them to overcome poverty and disease, and to
create legal systems which are equitable and respectful of human
dignity. Certainly, if justice is to be achieved, good economic
models, however necessary, are not sufficient. Justice is achieved
only when people are just! Consequently, building peace means
training individuals to fight corruption, criminal activity, the
production and trade in narcotics, as well as abstaining from
divisions and tensions which threaten to exhaust society, hindering
development and peaceful coexistence".
"Continuing
our meeting today, I would like to add that peace in society is also
put at risk by certain threats to religious liberty: it is a question
sometimes of the marginalization of religion in social life;
sometimes of intolerance or even of violence towards individuals,
symbols of religious identity and religious institutions. It even
happens that believers, and Christians in particular, are prevented
from contributing to the common good by their educational and
charitable institutions. In order effectively to safeguard the
exercise of religious liberty it is essential to respect the right of
conscientious objection. This 'frontier' of liberty touches upon
principles of great importance of an ethical and religious character,
rooted in the very dignity of the human person. They are, as it were,
the 'bearing walls' of any society that wishes to be truly free and
democratic. Thus, outlawing individual and institutional
conscientious objection in the name of liberty and pluralism
paradoxically opens by contrast the door to intolerance and forced
uniformity".
"Moreover,
in an ever more open world, building peace through dialogue is no
longer a choice but a necessity! From this perspective, the joint
declaration between the President of the Bishops’ Conference of
Poland and the Patriarch of Moscow, signed last August, is a strong
signal given by believers for the improvement of relations between
the Russian and Polish peoples. I would also like to mention the
peace accord concluded recently in the Philippines and I would like
to underline the role of dialogue between religions for a peaceful
coexistence in the region of Mindanao".
Benedict
XVI concluded by affirming that "peace remains 'an empty word'
if it is not nourished and completed by charity" and that
charity "is at the heart of the diplomatic activity of the Holy
See and, above all, of the concern of the Successor of Peter and of
the whole Catholic Church. Charity cannot take the place of justice
that has been denied; nor can justice, on the other hand, replace
charity that has been refused. The Church daily practises charity in
works of social assistance such as hospitals and clinics, her
educational institutions such as orphanages, schools, colleges and
universities, and through help given to peoples in distress,
especially during and after conflicts. In the name of charity, the
Church wishes also to be near all those who suffer due to natural
disasters. I am thinking of the flood victims in Southeast Asia and
of those of the hurricane which struck the East coast of the United
States. I am also thinking of those who experienced the earthquake
that devastated some regions of Northern Italy. As you know, I wanted
to go there personally and see for myself the earnest desire to
rebuild what had been destroyed. In this moment of its history, I
hope that such a spirit of tenacity and shared commitment will move
the entire beloved Italian nation".
"To
conclude our encounter, I would like to recall that, at the end of
the Second Vatican Council – which started fifty years ago - the
Servant of God, Pope Paul VI, sent out messages which remain
relevant, including one addressed to world leaders. He encouraged
them in this way: 'Your task is to be in the world the promoters of
order and peace among men. But never forget this: It is God […] who
is the great artisan of order and peace on earth'. Today, as I make
those sentiments my own, I convey to you, the Ambassadors and other
distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps, as well as to your
families and colleagues, my very best wishes for the New Year. Thank
you!".
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