VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) – The community of nations must set ethical limits to what can be done to protect their citizens from terrorism and work to halt the growing threat of a new nuclear arms race, Pope Benedict XVI said in his message for World Peace Day 2007.
The pontiff made his comments in his annual message for the Catholic Church observance of the World Day of Peace, which is celebrated on Jan. 1.
In the wide-ranging message, "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace," which is sent to governments and international organizations, he also address issues of religious freedom, the environment, human rights, conflicts in Lebanon and Africa, the inequality and exploitation of women, hunger, abortion, experimentation on human embryos and euthanasia.
The pope also repeated his often stated belief that war in God's name is never justified.
The about 3,400-word message, dated Dec. 8, was presented at the Vatican here on Dec. 12 by Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the pontifical council for justice and peace.
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The following is the text of Pope Benedict XVI’s message, "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace," for the World Day of Peace:
1. At the beginning of the new year, I wish to extend prayerful good wishes for peace to Governments, leaders of nations and all men and women of good will. In a special way, I invoke peace upon all those experiencing pain and suffering, those living under the threat of violence and armed aggression, and those who await their human and social emancipation, having had their dignity trampled upon. I invoke peace upon children, who by their innocence enrich humanity with goodness and hope, and by their sufferings compel us all to work for justice and peace. Out of concern for children, especially those whose future is compromised by exploitation and the malice of unscrupulous adults, I wish on this World Day of Peace to encourage everyone to reflect on the theme: “The Human Person, the Heart of Peace.” I am convinced that respect for the person promotes peace and that, in building peace, the foundations are laid for an authentic integral humanism. In this way a serene future is prepared for coming generations.
The human person and peace: gift and task
2. Sacred scripture affirms that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gn 1:27). As one created in the image of God, each individual human being has the dignity of a person; he or she is not just something, but someone, capable of self-knowledge, self-possession, free self-giving and entering into communion with others. At the same time, each person is called, by grace, to a covenant with the Creator, called to offer him a response of faith and love that no other creature can give in his place. From this supernatural perspective, one can understand the task entrusted to human beings to mature in the ability to love and to contribute to the progress of the world, renewing it in justice and in peace. In a striking synthesis, St. Augustine teaches that “God created us without our aid; but he did not choose to save us without our aid.” Consequently all human beings have the duty to cultivate an awareness of this twofold aspect of gift and task.
3. Likewise, peace is both gift and task. If it is true that peace between individuals and peoples – the ability to live together and to build relationships of justice and solidarity – calls for unfailing commitment on our part, it is also true, and indeed more so, that peace is a gift from God. Peace is an aspect of God's activity, made manifest both in the creation of an orderly and harmonious universe and also in the redemption of humanity that needs to be rescued from the disorder of sin. Creation and redemption thus provide a key that helps us begin to understand the meaning of our life on earth. My venerable predecessor, Pope John Paul II, addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations on 5 October 1995, stated that “we do not live in an irrational or meaningless world... there is a moral logic which is built into human life and which makes possible dialogue between individuals and peoples.” The transcendent “grammar”, that is to say the body of rules for individual action and the reciprocal relationships of persons in accordance with justice and solidarity, is inscribed on human consciences, in which the wise plan of God is reflected. As I recently had occasion to reaffirm: “we believe that at the beginning of everything is the eternal word, reason and not unreason(4).” Peace is thus also a task demanding of everyone a personal response consistent with God's plan. The criterion inspiring this response can only be respect for the “grammar” written on human hearts by the divine creator.
From this standpoint, the norms of the natural law should not be viewed as externally imposed decrees, as restraints upon human freedom. Rather, they should be welcomed as a call to carry out faithfully the universal divine plan inscribed in the nature of human beings. Guided by these norms, all peoples – within their respective cultures – can draw near to the greatest mystery, which is the ...
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