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Skriven 2006-10-26 19:16:40 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                               VIS-Press releases

CRISIS OF MEANING IN WEALTHY SOCIETIES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 26, 2006 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received
the Letters of Credence of Frank De Coninck, the new ambassador of Belgium to
the Holy See.

Recalling how Belgium was, from the very beginning, an active participant in
"the great project of European construction," the Holy Father praised the goals
achieved in this field over the last 50 years. "Little by little, the continent
of Europe is finding its unity in peace," he said, "the European Union has
become a major economic force and, for many people, a sign of hope."

Today, faced with "the requirements of the globalization of trade and of
solidarity between human beings," Europe must "continue to open itself,
committing itself to the great projects of the planet." In the first place is
"the question of peace and security, ... the international situation riven by
conflict, ... especially in the Middle East, and the dramatic conditions in the
Holy Land, Lebanon and Iraq, as well as in Africa and Asia."

The Holy Father went on to consider challenges that "concern the future of
human beings and their identity," noting how "enormous technological progress
has revolutionized many practices in the field of medical science, while ...
norms that once appeared untouchable have been relativized. ... In Western
societies, characterized by their superabundance of consumer goods and by their
subjectivism, human beings find themselves facing a crisis of meaning," while
"laws are passed that put respect for human life into question."

"The Church, on the foundation of her long experience, and of the treasure of
Revelation she received, ... firmly underlines her convictions concerning human
beings and their prodigious destiny," said the Pope. "When Belgian bishops
speak in favor of the development of palliative care to enable people ... to
die with dignity, or when they participate in the debates of society" in order
to draw attention to that invisible moral frontier before which technological
progress must bow: the dignity of man, "they seek to serve the whole of society
by identifying the conditions for a real future of freedom and dignity for
mankind. With them, I invite political leaders ... to give attentive
consideration to their responsibilities and to the challenges these questions
pose."

"Belgium," said the Holy Father, "came into being as a monarchy, the monarch's
role being to guarantee national unity and ensure respect for each linguistic
and cultural community within the nation. ... The unity of a country ...
requires all sides to show a will to serve the common interest and a desire for
better mutual knowledge through dialogue and reciprocal enrichment. Today, the
influx of ever-greater numbers of immigrants and the increasing number of
communities of different cultural origin or religion, make it absolutely
necessary for there to be dialogue between cultures and religions in our
societies."

"We must know one another better," the Pope concluded, "respecting one
another's religious convictions and the legitimate requirements of social life,
in accordance with current legislation. We must welcome immigrants in such a
way as always to respect their dignity" through "immigration policies that
reconcile the interests of the country of destination with the necessary
development of less-favored nations. ... Thus we will avoid the risks of ...
exacerbated nationalism or xenophobia, and may hope for the harmonious
development of our societies."
CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/BELGIUM DE CONINCK VIS 061026 (570)

SUMMARY

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