Pope calls on world leaders to make every effort for the family
Pope calls on world leaders to make every effort for the family
VATICAN CITY (AFP): Pope John Paul II said yesterday he was sending a letter to heads of state throughout the world asking them to "undertake all possible efforts" to protect the family.
Presenting his traditional Easter message from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the pope spoke against "the culture which humiliates the individual, not respecting the weakest and frailest creatures and trying even to undermine the sacred dignity of the family, the heart of society and the Church."
The leader of the world's Roman Catholics said that in this, the United Nations' International Year of the Family, he was sending a letter to world leaders to express his worries about these threats.
"In the letter," he said, "I ask that every effort be made to ensure that the value of the human person is not diminished - neither the sacred nature of life nor the human capacity for love and self-giving.
"The family remains the principal source of humanity: every state must guard it as a precious treasure."
Pope John Paul said he hoped the "joyful announcement" of the resurrection of Christ would "resound especially in Jerusalem, as it did the first time" as well as in the Balkans, the Caucasus and other regions where nationalism had given rise to "dangerous forms of evil extremism."
Wealthy
"May this proclamation of peace inspire all those in the wealthy societies who are trying to give a meaning to life and to organize civil society on the foundation of values more in keeping with the dignity of man and his transcendent vocation" the pontiff said.
"May love triumph over hate! The peoples enervated by material and moral poverty thirst for security and peace" he continued and asked "When will people finally be able to live as brothers and sisters in harmony with one another?"
After reading his message, the pope sent Easter greetings in 57 languages to the 50,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square and the millions across the world who heard the message on radio and television.
A week after important general elections in their country, Pope John Paul had a special message for Italians in "this hour of great responsibility."
He said he wished the Italians' spiritual and cultural heritage would "inspire in all the wisdom and courage to build a future open to hope and the common good."
He next sent his greetings to the mayors of numerous Italian and European cities, including the major of Sarajevo, Muhamed Kresevljakovic, who took part in a march through Rome to demand the abolition of the death penalty and the setting up of a permanent tribunal to judge crimes against humanity.
Before giving his solemn urbi et orbi blessing to the world, the pope celebrated mass in front of St. Peter's Basilica under intermittent rain.
He also thanked Dutch horticulturers who had transformed the square and the of the basilica into a colorful flower garden.