Pope addresses Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
(May 4, 2009) “For Christians who regularly ask God to “give us this day our daily
bread”, it is a shameful tragedy that one-fifth of humanity still goes hungry.” Pope
Benedict XVI denounced this blatant denial of the right to food on Monday while addressing
some 55 participants in the plenary session of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of
Social Sciences. The May 1-5 meeting discussed the theme, “Catholic Social Doctrine
and Human Rights.” The Pope spoke of “a flagrant contrast between the equal attribution
of rights and the unequal access to the means of attaining those rights.” He said
that “assuring an adequate food supply, like the protection of vital resources such
as water and energy, requires all international leaders to collaborate in showing
a readiness to work in good faith, respecting the natural law and promoting solidarity
and subsidiarity with the weakest regions and peoples of the planet…” He regarded
this as the most effective strategy for eliminating social inequalities between countries
and societies and for increasing global security. Addressing the concept of human
rights, the Pope said that even though they are not truths of faith,” “they receive
further confirmation from faith.” Fundamental rights are to be upheld and accorded
universal recognition because they are inherent in the very nature of man, who is
created in the image and likeness of God.” Acting in the physical world as spiritual
beings, the Pope explained, men and women become aware of a supreme being who helps
them in distinguishing between true and false, good and evil, better and worse, and
justice and injustice. “This ability to discern – this radical agency – renders every
person capable of grasping the “natural law”, which is nothing other than a participation
in the eternal law,” the Pope added.