Pope urges new evangelization to usher in true humanism

December 03, 2012 - Pope Benedict expressed hope that the new evangelization will usher in a new humanism and a renewed cultural commitment that will replace individualism, materialistic consumerism and technocracy with the culture of brotherhood, generosity and love based on solidarity. Pope Benedict made the observation on Monday in the Vatican while addressing some 40 members of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace who held their plenary assembly in Rome. He lamented that despite great progress in the defence of human rights in our time, today’s culture marked by utilitarian individualism and technocratic economic policies, tends to devalue the human person. He said it is a paradox that despite being immersed in an “infinite network of relationships and communications”, man today “often seems to be an isolated being” because his rapport with God, the root of all other relationships, is regarded with indifference. Man, he said, is regarded primarily in “biological terms”, as “human capital” or as a “resource” in the overall productive and financial machinery of society. While on the one hand, human dignity is being proclaimed, on the other hand, new ideologies, such as hedonistic and egoistic sexual rights or an unruly financial capitalism that abuses political power and removes structures from the true economy, lead to regard the employee and his labour as a lesser good – thus undermining the natural foundations of society, especially the family. However, the Pope said, the human being enjoys a true primacy above other beings and earthly goods, which endows him with responsibility both for himself and creation. For Christianity, work is a fundamental good for man, for his “personalization, socialization, formation of the family and with regard to the common good and peace,” the Pope said. He stressed that a “new social evangelization” can lead to a “new humanism and renewed cultural commitment”. Solidarity, charity and love offer the best response to individualism, materialism and technocracy. The secret of any “fully human and peaceful social life” as well as “political renewal” in national and world institutions, the Pope said, should be based on the Lord’s commandment to love one another as He has loved us.