Holy Father’s General Intention for the Month of July

(June 30, 2010) The General Intention of the Holy Father for the Month of July: Justice in Elections: That election in every nation may be carried out with justice, transparency, and honesty, respecting the free decisions of citizens. Pope Benedict XVI has said that “fidelity to democracy alone can guarantee equality and rights to everyone.” Yet democracy is at risk in our time. “In a world without truth,” said the Pope, “freedom loses its foundation, and a democracy without values can lose its very soul.” The Holy Father asks us to pray this month for elections throughout the world. We are praying with the universal Church that votes may be cast freely, tallied honestly, and honoured in their result. Free and fair elections serve the common good, but only if citizens inform themselves and vote. The Pope asks us to participate in our democratic process first by seeking truth through reason and Christian values. Then we must bravely speak the truth, always respecting the freedom of others. “Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized,” the Pope said in his White House address, “when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.” The Holy Father says that as citizens we can help our democracy to flourish by the preservation of freedom, by self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good, and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.” As we pray for free and fair elections through-out the world, let us also pray for voters, including ourselves, that we may seek the common good.