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Skriven 2007-06-07 06:40:16 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                               VIS-Press releases

APPEAL TO HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE G8

VATICAN CITY, JUN 6, 2007 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience,
celebrated in St. Peter's Square, the Pope made an appeal to heads of State and
government of the G8 countries - the seven most industrialized countries in the
world plus the Russian Federation - who are holding their annual summit meeting
in Heiligendamm, Germany from June 6 to 8.

The Pope recalled how on December 16, 2006 he had written to Angela Merkel,
chancellor of Germany, at the beginning of the German presidency of the
European Union, "thanking her, in the name of the Catholic Church, for the
decision to keep the theme of world poverty on the agenda of the G8, with
specific reference to Africa. Chancellor Merkel kindly replied to me on 2
February last, assuring me of the G8's commitment to attaining the Millennium
Development Goals.

"Now," he added, "I should like to make a further appeal to the leaders meeting
at Heiligendamm, not to retreat from their promises to make a substantial
increase in development aid in favor of the most needy populations, especially
those of the African continent.

"In this regard, the second Millennium Goal merits special attention: 'to
achieve universal primary education - to ensure that all boys and girls
complete a full course of primary schooling by 2015.' This is an integral part
of the attainment of all the other Millennium Goals: it is a guarantee of the
consolidation of goals already reached; it is the starting-point for autonomous
and sustainable processes of development.

"It must not be forgotten that the Catholic Church has always been at the
forefront in the field of education, reaching places, particularly in the
poorest countries, that State structures often fail to reach. Other Christian
Churches, religious groups and organizations of civil society share this
educational commitment. According to the principle of subsidiarity, this
reality should be recognized, valued and supported by governments and
international organizations, among other things by the allocation of sufficient
funding, so that greater efficacy may be guaranteed in the attainment of the
Millennium Development Goals. Let us hope," he concluded, "that serious efforts
be made to reach these objectives."
AG/APPEAL G8/...VIS 070606 (380)

SUMMARY

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