(January 10, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday called for Pakistan to repeal its
blasphemy law, days after a senior Pakistani politician who opposed the legislation
was assassinated by his own bodyguard. “I once more encourage the leaders of that
country to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law, all the more so because
it is clear that it serves as a pretext for acts of injustice and violence against
religious minorities,” the Pope told ambassadors to the Holy See. Speaking to the
diplomatic corps in his annual state of the world address, dedicated this year almost
exclusively to religious freedom, the Pope said, “The tragic murder of the governor
of Punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction,” adding, “the
worship of God furthers fraternity and love, not hatred and division.” The Pope
was referring to Salman Taseer, the 66-year old outspoken and liberal governor of
Pakistan’s Punjab province who was shot dead in Islamabad on Jan. 4 by one of his
bodyguards who told interrogators he was angry over the politician's opposition to
blasphemy laws that impose the death penalty for those convicted of insulting Islam.
Pope Benedict has frequently denounced the wave of attacks against Christians
in the Middle East and warned of the threat that religious intolerance poses to world
security. On Monday, he catalogued a wave of injustices against the faithful from
China to Nigeria in pressing governments to take action. He cited, in particular,
recent attacks on Christians attending Mass in Egypt and Iraq, where violence has
forced droves of the faithful to flee elsewhere for safety. He said Christians are
original members of these societies and deserve to live there in security with full
civil rights. “This succession of attacks is yet another sign of the urgent need
for the governments of the region to adopt… effective measures for the protection
of religious minorities,” he said. He hoped that in the Arabian Peninsula, where
numerous Christian immigrant workers live, the Catholic Church will be able to establish
suitable pastoral structures to take care of its faithful. He cited China while saying
the state should never have a “monopoly” over the faith. “The sincere search for
God has led to greater respect for human dignity,” the Pope said adding Christian
communities, with their patrimony of values and principles, have contributed much
to making individuals and peoples aware of their identity and their dignity, the establishment
of democratic institutions and the recognition of human rights and their corresponding
duties. In this regard Pope Benedict pointed to the figure of Mother Teresa of Kolkata
as a model of how “commitment born of faith is beneficial to society as a whole.”
The Pope also expressed concern about Europe and the West, saying religious freedom
is at risk in places where all religion is so marginalized that society considers
it alien or destabilizing. He praised a recent Council of Europe decision granting
doctors and nurses the right to exercise conscientious objection concerning abortion,
and applauded European countries for joining Italy's fight to keep crucifixes displayed
in public places.
Below is the full text of the Pope's Jan. 10 address
to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See:
Your Excellencies, Ladies
and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to welcome you, the
distinguished representatives of so many countries, to this meeting which each year
assembles you around the Successor of Peter. It is a deeply significant meeting,
since it is a sign and illustration of the place of the Church and of the Holy See
in the international community. I offer my greetings and cordial good wishes to each
of you, and particularly to those who have come for the first time. I am grateful
to you for the commitment and interest with which, in the exercise of your demanding
responsibilities, you follow my activities, those of the Roman Curia and thus, in
some sense, the life of the Catholic Church throughout the world. Your Dean, Ambassador
Alejandro Valladares Lanza, has interpreted your sentiments and I thank him for the
good wishes which he has expressed to me in the name of all. Knowing how close-knit
your community is, I am certain that today you are also thinking of the Ambassador
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Baroness van Lynden-Leijten, who several weeks
ago returned to the house of the Father. I prayerfully share your sentiments.
As
a new year begins, our own hearts and the entire world continue to echo the joyful
message proclaimed twenty centuries ago in the night of Bethlehem, a night which symbolizes
humanity’s deep need for light, love and peace. To the men and women of that time,
as to those of our own day, the heavenly hosts brought the good news of the coming
of the Saviour: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those
who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Is 9:1). The mystery
of the Son of God who became the son of man truly surpasses all human expectations.
In its absolute gratuitousness this saving event is the authentic and full response
to the deep desire of every heart. The truth, goodness, happiness and abundant life
which each man and woman consciously or unconsciously seeks are given to us by God.
In longing for these gifts, each person is seeking his Creator, for “God alone responds
to the yearning present in the heart of every man and woman” (Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation Verbum Domini, 23). Humanity throughout history, in its beliefs and rituals,
demonstrates a constant search for God and “these forms of religious expression are
so universal that one may well call man a religious being” (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 28). The religious dimension is an undeniable and irrepressible feature of
man’s being and acting, the measure of the fulfilment of his destiny and of the building
up of the community to which he belongs. Consequently, when the individual himself
or those around him neglect or deny this fundamental dimension, imbalances and conflicts
arise at all levels, both personal and interpersonal.
This
primary and basic truth is the reason why, in this year’s Message for World Day of
Peace, I identified religious freedom as the fundamental path to peace. Peace is
built and preserved only when human beings can freely seek and serve God in their
hearts, in their lives and in their relationships with others.
Ladies
and Gentlemen, your presence on this solemn occasion is an invitation to survey the
countries which you represent and the entire world. In this panorama do we not find
numerous situations in which, sadly, the right to religious freedom is violated or
denied? It is indeed the first of human rights, not only because it was historically
the first to be recognized but also because it touches the constitutive dimension
of man, his relation with his Creator. Yet is this fundamental human right not all
too often called into question or violated? It seems to me that society, its leaders
and public opinion are becoming more and more aware, even if not always in a clear
way, of this grave attack on the dignity and freedom of homo religiosus, which I have
sought on numerous occasions to draw to the attention of all.
I
did so during the past year in my Apostolic Journeys to Malta, Portugal, Cyprus, the
United Kingdom and Spain. Above and beyond the diversity of those countries, I recall
with gratitude their warm welcome. The Special Assembly for the Middle East of the
Synod of Bishops, which took place in the Vatican in October, was a moment of prayer
and reflection in which our thoughts turned insistently to the Christian communities
in that part of the world which suffer greatly because of their fidelity to Christ
and the Church.
Looking to the East, the attacks
which brought death, grief and dismay among the Christians of Iraq, even to the point
of inducing them to leave the land where their families have lived for centuries,
has troubled us deeply. To the authorities of that country and to the Muslim religious
leaders I renew my heartfelt appeal that their Christian fellow-citizens be able to
live in security, continuing to contribute to the society in which they are fully
members. In Egypt too, in Alexandria, terrorism brutally struck Christians as they
prayed in church. This succession of attacks is yet another sign of the urgent need
for the governments of the region to adopt, in spite of difficulties and dangers,
effective measures for the protection of religious minorities. Need we repeat it?
In the Middle East, Christians are original and authentic citizens who are loyal to
their fatherland and assume their duties toward their country. It is natural that
they should enjoy all the rights of citizenship, freedom of conscience, freedom of
worship and freedom in education, teaching and the use of the mass media” (Message
to the People of God of the Special Asembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops,
10). I appreciate the concern for the rights of the most vulnerable and the political
farsightedness which some countries in Europe have demonstrated in recent days by
their call for a concerted response on the part of the European Union for the defence
of Christians in the Middle East. Finally, I would like to state once again that
the right to religious freedom is not fully respected when only freedom of worship
is guaranteed, and that with restrictions. Furthermore, I encourage the accompaniment
of the full safeguarding of religious freedom and other humans rights by programmes
which, beginning in primary school and within the context of religious instruction,
will educate everyone to respect their brothers and sisters in humanity. Regarding
the states of the Arabian Peninsula, where numerous Christian immigrant workers live,
I hope that the Catholic Church will be able to establish suitable pastoral structures.
Among
the norms prejudicing the right of persons to religious freedom, particular mention
must be made of the law against blasphemy in Pakistan: I once more encourage the leaders
of that country to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law, all the more so
because it is clear that it serves as a pretext for acts of injustice and violence
against religious minorities. The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the
urgent need to make progress in this direction: the worship of God furthers fraternity
and love, not hatred and division. Other troubling situations, at times accompanied
by acts of violence, can be mentioned in south and south-east Asia, in countries which
for that matter have a tradition of peaceful social relations. The particular influence
of a given religion in a nation ought never to mean that citizens of another religion
can be subject to discrimination in social life or, even worse, that violence against
them can be tolerated. In this regard, it is important for interreligious dialogue
to favour a common commitment to recognizing and promoting the religious freedom of
each person and community. And, as I remarked earlier, violence against Christians
does not spare Africa. Attacks on places of worship in Nigeria during the very celebrations
marking the birth of Christ are another sad proof of this. In
a number of countries, on the other hand, a constitutionally recognized right to religious
freedom exists, yet the life of religious communities is in fact made difficult and
at times even dangerous (cf. Dignitatis Humanae, 15) because the legal or social order
is inspired by philosophical and political systems which call for strict control,
if not a monopoly, of the state over society. Such inconsistencies must end, so that
believers will not find themselves torn between fidelity to God and loyalty to their
country. I ask in particular that Catholic communities be everywhere guaranteed full
autonomy of organization and the freedom to carry out their mission, in conformity
with international norms and standards in this sphere.
My
thoughts turn once again to the Catholic community of mainland China and its pastors,
who are experiencing a time of difficulty and trial. I would also like to offer a
word of encouragement to the authorities of Cuba, a country which in 2010 celebrated
seventy-five years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations with the Holy See, that the
dialogue happily begun with the Church may be reinforced and expanded.
Turning
our gaze from East to West, we find ourselves faced with other kinds of threats to
the full exercise of religious freedom. I think in the first place of countries which
accord great importance to pluralism and tolerance, but where religion is increasingly
being marginalized. There is a tendency to consider religion, all religion, as something
insignificant, alien or even destabilizing to modern society, and to attempt by different
means to prevent it from having any influence on the life of society. Christians
are even required at times to act in the exercise of their profession with no reference
to their religious and moral convictions, and even in opposition to them, as for example
where laws are enforced limiting the right to conscientious objection on the part
of health care or legal professionals.
In this context,
one can only be gratified by the adoption by the Council of Europe last October of
a resolution protecting the right to conscientious objection on the part of medical
personnel vis-à-vis certain acts which gravely violate the right to life, such as
abortion.
Another sign of the marginalization of
religion, and of Christianity in particular, is the banning of religious feasts and
symbols from civic life under the guise of respect for the members of other religions
or those who are not believers. By acting in this way, not only is the right of believers
to the public expression of their faith restricted, but an attack is made on the cultural
roots which nourish the profound identity and social cohesion of many nations. Last
year, a number of European countries supported the appeal lodged by the Italian government
in the well-known case involving the display of the crucifix in public places. I
am grateful to the authorities of those nations, as well as to all those who became
involved in the issue, episcopates, civil and religious organizations and associations,
particularly the Patriarchate of Moscow and the other representatives of the Orthodox
hierarchy, as well as to all those – believers and non-believers alike – who wished
to show their sympathy for this symbol, which bespeaks universal values.
Acknowledging
religious freedom also means ensuring that religious communities can operate freely
in society through initiatives in the social, charitable or educational sectors.
Throughout the world, one can see the fruitful work accomplished by the Catholic Church
in these areas. It is troubling that this service which religious communities render
to society as a whole, particularly through the education of young people, is compromised
or hampered by legislative proposals which risk creating a sort of state monopoly
in the schools; this can be seen, for example, in certain countries in Latin America.
Now that many of those countries are celebrating the second centenary of their independence
– a fitting time for remembering the contribution made by the Catholic Church to the
development of their national identity – I exhort all governments to promote educational
systems respectful of the primordial right of families to make decisions about the
education of their children, systems inspired by the principle of subsidiarity which
is basic to the organization of a just society.
Continuing
my reflection, I cannot remain silent about another attack on the religious freedom
of families in certain European countries which mandate obligatory participation in
courses of sexual or civic education which allegedly convey a neutral conception of
the person and of life, yet in fact reflect an anthropology opposed to faith and to
right reason.
Ladies and Gentlemen, on this solemn
occasion, allow me to state clearly several principles which inspire the Holy See,
together with the whole Catholic Church, in its activity within the intergovernmental
International Organizations for the promotion of full respect for the religious freedom
of all. First, the conviction that one cannot create a sort of scale of degrees of
religious intolerance. Unfortunately, such an attitude is frequently found, and it
is precisely acts of discrimination against Christians which are considered less grave
and less worthy of attention on the part of governments and public opinion. At the
same time, there is a need to reject the dangerous notion of a conflict between the
right to religious freedom and other human rights, thus disregarding or denying the
central role of respect for religious freedom in the defence and protection of fundamental
human dignity. Even less justifiable are attempts to counter the right of religious
freedom with other alleged new rights which, while actively promoted by certain sectors
of society and inserted in national legislation or in international directives, are
nonetheless merely the expression of selfish desires lacking a foundation in authentic
human nature. Finally, it seems unnecessary to point out that an abstract proclamation
of religious freedom is insufficient: this fundamental rule of social life must find
application and respect at every level and in all areas; otherwise, despite correct
affirmations of principle, there is a risk that deep injustice will be done to citizens
wishing to profess and freely practise their faith.
Promoting
the full religious freedom of Catholic communities is also the aim of the Holy See
in signing Concordats and other agreements. I am gratified that states in different
parts of the world, and of different religious, cultural and juridical traditions,
choose international conventions as a means of organizing relations between the political
community and the Catholic Church, thus establishing through dialogue a framework
of cooperation and respect for reciprocal areas of competence. Last year witnessed
the signing and implementation of an Agreement for the religious assistance of the
Catholic faithful in the armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and negotiations
are presently under way with different countries. We trust that they will have a
positive outcome, ensuring solutions respectful of the nature and freedom of the Church
for the good of society as a whole.
The activity
of the Papal Representatives accredited to states and international organizations
is likewise at the service of religious freedom. I would like to point out with satisfaction
that the Vietnamese authorities have accepted my appointment of a Representative who
will express the solicitude of the Successor of Peter by visiting the beloved Catholic
community of that country. I would also like to mention that in the past year the
diplomatic presence of the Holy See was expanded in Africa, since a stable presence
is now assured in three countries without a resident Nuncio. God willing, I will
once more travel to that continent, to Benin next November, in order to consign the
Apostolic Exhortation which will gather the fruits of the labours of the second Special
Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.
Before
this distinguished assembly, I would like once more to state forcefully that religion
does not represent a problem for society, that it is not a source of discord or conflict.
I would repeat that the Church seeks no privileges, nor does she seek to intervene
in areas unrelated to her mission, but simply to exercise the latter with freedom.
I invite everyone to acknowledge the great lesson of history: “How can anyone deny
the contribution of the world’s great religions to the development of civilization?
The sincere search for God has led to greater respect for human dignity. Christian
communities, with their patrimony of values and principles, have contributed much
to making individuals and peoples aware of their identity and their dignity, the establishment
of democratic institutions and the recognition of human rights and their corresponding
duties. Today too, in an increasingly globalized society, Christians are called,
not only through their responsible involvement in civic, economic and political life
but also through the witness of their charity and faith, to offer a valuable contribution
to the laborious and stimulating pursuit of justice, integral human development and
the right ordering of human affairs” (Message for the Celebration of World Peace Day,
1 January 2011, 7).
A clear example of this was
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: the centenary of her birth was celebrated at Tirana,
Skopje and Pristina as well as in India, and a moving homage was paid to her not only
by the Church but also by civil authorities and religious leaders, to say nothing
of people of all religions. People like her show the world the extent to which the
commitment born of faith is beneficial to society as a whole.
May
no human society willingly deprive itself of the essential contribution of religious
persons and communities! As the Second Vatican Council recalled, by guaranteeing
just religious freedom fully and to all, society can “enjoy the benefits of justice
and peace which result from faithfulness to God and his holy will” (Declaration Dignitatis
Humanae, 6).
For this reason, as we exchange good
wishes for a new year rich in concord and genuine progress, I exhort everyone, political
and religious leaders and persons of every walk of life, to set out with determination
on the path leading to authentic and lasting peace, a path which passes through respect
for the right to religious freedom in all its fullness.
On
this commitment, whose accomplishment calls for the involvement of the whole human
family, I invoke the blessing of Almighty God, who has reconciled us with himself
and with one another through his Son Jesus Christ our peace (Eph 2:14).