(Vatican Radio) Pope Benedict XVI’s general prayer intention for September is “that
politicians may always act with honesty, integrity, and love for the truth”. In a
address to the 2010 Pontifical Council for the Laity Assembly, on “Witnesses to Christ
in the Political Community”, Pope Benedict outlined his vision of the Churches contribution
to the formation of politicians.
“…the technical formation of politicians
is not part of the Church's mission; various other institutions exist for this purpose.
Rather, the Church's mission is to "pass moral judgments even in matters relating
to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires
it.... [T]he only means it may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and
the welfare of all men according to the diversity of times and circumstances" (Gaudium
et spes, n. 76). The Church concentrates particularly on the formation of the disciples
of Christ, in order that they may ever increasingly become witnesses of his Presence,
any and everywhere. It is up to the lay faithful to demonstrate concretely in their
personal and family life, in social, cultural and political life that the faith enables
them to see reality in a new and profound way, and to transform it; that Christian
hope broadens the limited horizon of mankind, expanding it towards the true loftiness
of his being, towards God; that charity in truth is the most effective force that
is capable of changing the world; that the Gospel gives a guarantee of freedom and
a message of liberation; that the fundamental principles of the social doctrine of
the Church such as the dignity of the human person, subsidiarity and solidarity are
extremely relevant and valuable in order to support new paths of development in service
to the whole person and to all humanity. It is also the duty of the laity to participate
actively in political life, in a manner consistently in accordance with the Church's
teaching, bringing their well-founded reasons and high ideals into the democratic
debate, and into the search for a broad consensus among all those who care about the
defense of life and freedom, the safeguarding of truth and the good of the family,
solidarity with the needy and the crucial search for the common good. Christians do
not seek political or cultural hegemony but, whatever their work, they are animated
by the certainty that Christ is the cornerstone of every human structure (cf. Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding The Participation
of Catholics in Political Life, 24 November 2002).
In taking up the words
of my Predecessors, I too can affirm that politics is a very important field in which
to exercise charity. It calls Christians to a strong commitment to citizenship, to
building a good life in one's country, and likewise to an effective presence among
the international community's institutions and programmes. There is a need for authentically
Christian politicians but, even more so, for lay faithful who witness to Christ and
the Gospel in the civil and political community. This demand must be reflected in
the educational programmes of ecclesial communities and requires new forms of presence
and support from Pastors. Christian membership in faith-related associations, ecclesial
movements and new communities can provide a good school for these disciples and witnesses,
sustained by the charismatic, communitarian, educational and missionary resources
of these groups.
This is a demanding challenge. The times in which we live
confront us with large and complex problems, and the social question has become an
anthropological question at the same time. In the recent past, the ideological paradigms
have been shattered that proposed to be a "scientific" response to that question.
The spread of a confused cultural relativism and of a utilitarian and hedonistic individualism
weakens democracy and favours the dominance of strong powers. We must recover and
reinvigorate authentic political wisdom; be demanding in what concerns our own sphere
of competency; make discerning use of the research of the human sciences; face reality
in all its aspects, going beyond any kind of ideological reductionism or utopian dream;
show we are open to true dialogue and collaboration, bearing in mind that politics
is also a complex art of equilibrium between ideals and interests, but never forgetting
that the contribution of Christians can be effective only if knowledge of faith becomes
knowledge of reality, the key to judgement and transformation. What is needed is a
real "revolution of love". The new generations have immense demands and challenges
before them in their personal and social life. Your Dicastery looks after them with
special care, particularly through the World Youth Days, which have for 25 years been
producing rich apostolic fruits among young people. Among these challenges is also
the social and political commitment, founded not on partisan ideologies or interests
but rather on the choice to serve man and the common good, in the light of the Gospel.
BENEDICT
XVI ADDRESS TO THE 24TH PLENARY SESSION OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE LAITY 21
May 2010