Pope Benedict: Globalisation and our shared responsibility

“Humanity today must strive towards the goal of integral human development” said Pope Benedict XVI Thursday as he welcomed 12 new ambassadors to the Holy See. Among those presenting their letters of credence were representatives from Trinidad and Tobago, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the Swiss Confederation, Burundi, Thailand, Pakistan, Mozambique, Kyrgyzstan, the Principality of Andorra, Sri Lanka and Burkina Faso.

Breaking with a tradition first established by Paul VI, the Holy Father delivered one general discourse to all ambassadors present, which focused on themes close to the Pope’s heart; our growing interdependence in the era of globalization and in parallel our increased shared responsibility for mankind and creation.

He said today we must all be aware that “we are all responsible for everything” and that we must pursue the common good by promoting solidarity among generations, protecting the dignity of every human being and protecting nature. And without the fear that this common responsibility clashes with religious and cultural differences.

Pope Benedict said we now understand that " the unity of the human family is an everyday fact." This – he added - has positive aspects, but "it is sometimes experienced as a burden," meaning that this unity "significantly broadens the scope of our shared responsibility”, while at the same time it renders the solution of problems “proportionally complex to the number of those seeking to solve them".

Instead he said that interdependence must not be lived "as a threat, but as an advantage that people have to work with each other, for each other." In this regard the Pope spoke in terms of the positive growth of inter-generational solidarity, which he said “finds its roots in the natural family, which must be supported so it may continues to fulfill its essential mission in society”.

At the same, the Holy Father said the education of young people remains “the privileged way to broaden the field of solidarity and ensure its promotion in the long-term”. He encouraged all players, especially governments, "to show their creativity in finding and investing the necessary resources to give young people basic ethical foundations, in particular by helping in their formation and by fighting social ills such as unemployment, drugs, crime and disrespect of the person. "

Finally, Pope Benedict concluded that "there need be no fear that this common and shared responsibility for the good of all mankind will find a constant source of opposition in cultural and religious differences".

He said the pluralism of cultures and religions is not opposed to our common quest for what is true, good and beautiful. Human reason, purified by faith, lift s man and "is capable of overcoming the constraints or partisan interest, to recognize the universal good of which all men are in need. Among these, peace and the much desired social and religious harmony are linked not only to a just and suitable legislative framework, but also to the moral quality of every citizen".