Pope speaks of France’s role in peace, urges respect for human life in bioethics debate

(January 26, 2009) According to Pope Benedict XVI, France can play a great role to bring about solutions to the numerous crises that mark the international scene today. His comment came in an address he made on Monday to new French ambassador to the Holy See, Stanislas Lefebvre de Laboulaye, who presented his credentials to the Pontiff at a formal ceremony in the Vatican. In his talk the Pope once again aired his worries over conflict situations and cases of human rights violation. Recalling his recent address to the diplomatic corps, the Pope said the Holy See follows with constant concern the conflict situations and cases of human rights violation. But at the same time, the Pope said, the Vatican is confident that the international community, where France plays a great role, can contribute in a more just and effective manner to bring about peace and harmony among nations and to the development of each country. Recalling the debate in France this year to revise its bioethics law, Pope Benedict hoped that the nation would take into consideration the intangible character of the whole of human live. Recalling the Vatican’s recent document on human dignity the Pope reminded ambassador Laboulaye that scientific progress must always be guided by principles of the good and inalienable dignity of man. Regarding the French government’s measures to face the financial crisis, the Holy Father wished that the promotion of social cohesion and the protection of the weak be kept in mind.