Text of Pope Benedict XVI's Speech to Centrist Democratic International
(21 Sept. 2007 -RV) Below is the full text of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks to the Executive
Committee of Centrist Democratic International.
Mister President, Honourable
Members of Parliament, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased
to welcome you during the conference of the Executive Committee of Centrist Democratic
International, and I extend cordial greetings to the Delegates present from many nations
throughout the world. I thank your President, the Honourable Pier Ferdinando Casini,
for the kind words of greeting he has offered to me on your behalf. Your visit gives
me an opportunity to bring to your attention some of the values and ideals that have
been moulded and deepened in a decisive way by the Christian tradition in Europe and
throughout the world.
Notwithstanding your different backgrounds, I know
that you share several basic principles of this tradition, such as the centrality
of the human person, a respect for human rights, a commitment to peace and the promotion
of justice for all. You appeal to fundamental principles, which, as history has shown,
are closely interconnected. In effect, when human rights are violated, the dignity
of the human person suffers; when justice is compromised, peace itself is jeopardized.
On the other hand, justice is truly human only when the ethical and moral vision grounding
it is centred on the human person and his inalienable dignity. Ladies and Gentlemen,
your activity, inspired by these principles, is subject to increasing challenges today
due to the profound changes taking place in your respective communities. For this
reason, I wish to encourage you to persevere in your efforts to serve the common good,
taking it upon yourselves to prevent the dissemination and entrenchment of ideologies
which obscure and confuse consciences by promoting an illusory vision of truth and
goodness. In the economic sphere, for example, there is a tendency to view financial
gain as the only good, thus eroding the internal ethos of commerce to the point that
even profit margins suffer. There are those who maintain that human reason is incapable
of grasping the truth, and therefore of pursuing the good that corresponds to personal
dignity. There are some who believe that it is legitimate to destroy human life in
its earliest or final stages. Equally troubling is the growing crisis of the family,
which is the fundamental nucleus of society based on the indissoluble bond of marriage
between a man and a woman. Experience has shown that when the truth about man is
subverted or the foundation of the family undermined, peace itself is threatened and
the rule of law is compromised, leading inevitably to forms of injustice and violence.
Another
cause highly esteemed by all of you is the defence of religious liberty, which is
a fundamental, irrepressible, inalienable and inviolable right rooted in the dignity
of every human being and acknowledged by various international documents, especially
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The exercise of this freedom also includes
the right to change religion, which should be guaranteed not only legally, but also
in daily practice. In fact, religious liberty corresponds to the human person’s innate
openness to God, who is the fullness of truth and the supreme good. An appreciation
for religious freedom is a fundamental expression of respect for human reason and
its capacity to know the truth. Openness to transcendence is an indispensable guarantee
of human dignity since within every human heart there are needs and desires which
find their fulfilment in God alone. For this reason, God can never be excluded from
the horizon of man and world history! That is why all authentically religious traditions
must be allowed to manifest their own identity publicly, free from any pressure to
hide or disguise it.
Moreover, due respect for religion helps to counter the
charge that society has forgotten God: an accusation shamelessly exploited by some
terrorist networks in an attempt to justify their threats against global security.
Terrorism is a serious problem whose perpetrators often claim to act in God’s name
and harbour an inexcusable contempt for human life. Society naturally has a right
to defend itself, but this right must be exercised with complete respect for moral
and legal norms, including the choice of ends and means. In democratic systems, the
use of force in a manner contrary to the principles of a constitutional State can
never be justified. Indeed, how can we claim to protect democracy if we threaten
its very foundations? Consequently, it is necessary both to keep careful watch over
the security of civil society and its citizens while at the same time safeguarding
the inalienable rights of all. Terrorism needs to be fought with determination and
effectiveness, mindful that if the mystery of evil is widespread today, the solidarity
of mankind in goodness is an even more pervasive mystery.
In this regard, the
social teaching of the Catholic Church offers some points for reflection on how to
promote security and justice both at the national and international levels. This
teaching is based on reason, natural law and the Gospel: that is, principles that
both accord with and transcend the nature of every human being. The Church knows
that it is not her specific task to see to the political implementation of this teaching:
her objective is to help form consciences in political life, to raise awareness of
the authentic requirements of justice, and to foster a greater readiness to act accordingly,
even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest (cf. Deus
Caritas Est, 28). In this her mission, the Church is moved only by love for humanity
and the desire to work together with all people of goodwill to build a world in which
the dignity and inalienable rights of all persons will be safeguarded. For those
of you who share a faith in Christ, the Church asks you to bear witness to that faith
today with even greater courage and generosity. The integrity of Christians in political
life is indeed more necessary than ever so that the “salt” of apostolic zeal does
not lose its “flavour”, and so that the “lamp” of Gospel values enlightening the daily
work of Christians is not obscured by pragmatism or utilitarianism, suspicion or hate.
Your Excellencies, I thank you once again for this welcome opportunity
to meet with you. Wishing you success in your respective missions, I assure all of
you of a remembrance in my prayers, that Almighty God may bless you and your families,
and that you may receive the wisdom, integrity and moral strength to serve the great
and noble cause of human dignity.