Holy See desires integral human development of all, top Vatican official tells UN
Summit
(Sept.21,2010) As a sign of the message of the universality of the Catholic Church,
Pope Benedict XVI desires to collaborate with men and women from all over the world,
of both developed and developing countries and Christian and non-Christian cultures,
the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace told a Summit of world’s
leaders in New York on Monday. Cardinal Peter Turkson, leader of the Vatican delegation,
made the remarks at the 3-day Summit that concludes on Wednesday. World leaders
have gathered at UN headquarters in New York to accelerate the pace to achieve the
Millenium Development Goals, MDGs, as just 5 years are left for the deadline 2015. Cardinal
Turkson said progress has been made in various ways, toward halving the number of
people living under the absolute poverty line, particularly in the area of education
and equal opportunities for men and women. But much more still needs to be done through
continued economic and financial solidarity, in order to guarantee the availability
of resources. Cardinal Turkson noted that countless victims worldwide are suffering
in the wake of the international financial crises. The unethical and irresponsible
conduct of large private financial operators, he said, together with the lack of
foresight and control by governments and the international community, have all played
a role. The prelate stressed that all governments of both developed and developing
countries, must accept their responsibility to fight corruption and sometimes immoral
behaviour, in the areas of business and finances and seek to promote the human aspects
of development, such as education, job security and basic health care for all. Cardinal
Turkson said the Holy See feels obliged to be present in the life of the nations,
to carry out its commitment in partnership with the international community. It desires
to collaborate with this Summit in the quest of an era of social peace, social justice
and authentic human integral development, the prelate concluded..