The world today

On 8 January 2007 His Holiness presented what could be called his "State of the World Address" to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. In what was one of his lengthier addresses, Pope Benedict XVI covered a great many topics important to the worldwide community, including hunger and famine, faith, violence, economics, refugees and migrants, to name a few.

What follows are exceprts from his address. The address in full can be read here, which I do recommend.

On hunger

The worsening scandal of hunger is unacceptable in a world which has the resources, the knowledge, and the means available to bring it to an end. It impels us to change our way of life, it reminds us of the urgent need to eliminate the structural causes of global economic dysfunction and to correct models of growth that seem incapable of guaranteeing respect for the environment and for integral human development, both now and in the future.

On migrants

It is an illusion to think that migration can be blocked or checked simply by force. Migration and the problems which it gives rise must be addressed humanely, with justice and compassion.

On respect for life

How can we not be alarmed, moreoever, by the continuous attacks on life, from conception to natural death?...Other forms of attack on life are sometimes committed in the name of scientific research. There is a growing conviction that reseach is subject only to the laws that it chooses for itself and that it is limited only by its own possibilities.

On the family

Equally, there are mounting threats to the natural composition of the family based on the marriage of a man and a woman, and attempts to relativize it by giving it the same status as other radically different forms of union. All this offends and helps to destabilize the family by concealing its specific nature and its unique social role.

On interreligious dialogue

I should like to mention first of all the growing awareness of the importance of dialogue between cultures and religions. This is a vital necessity, particularly in view of the challenges we all face regarding the family and society.

On the international community

It is also timely to note the growing awareness shown by the international community of the enormous challenges of our time, and the efforts made to transform this awareness into concrete action.

Another important element in the collective struggle to eliminate poverty, in addition to aid - which one can only hope will expand - is a greater awareness of the need to combat corruption and to promote good governance.

On the dictatorship of relativism

In the light of the elections that took place last year in several countries, it should be emphasized that democracy is called to take into account the aspirations of the citizens as a whole, and to promote increasing respect for all the components of society, according to the principles of solidarity, subsidiarity and justice. Yet the practice of democracy must be allowed to turn into the dictatorship of relativism, by proposing anthropological models incompatible with the nature and dignity of the human person.

On war

The Holy See will never tire of reiterating that armed solutions achieve nothing, as we saw in Lebanon last summer.

On Europe

Likewise, one cannot ignore the undeniable Christian heritage of the continent, which has greatly contributed to the formation of European nations and European peoples.

He summarized his addresss fantastically:

The situations I have mentioned constitute a challenge that touches us all – a challenge to promote and consolidate all the positive elements in the world, and to overcome, with good will, wisdom and tenacity, all that causes injury, degradation and death. It is by respecting the human person that peace can be promoted, and it is by building peace that the foundations of an authentic integral humanism are laid. This is where I find the answer to the concern for the future voiced by so many of our contemporaries. Yes, the future can be serene if we work together for humanity. Man, created in the image of God, has an incomparable dignity; man, who is so worthy of love in the eyes of his Creator that God did not hesitate to give his own Son for him. That is the great mystery of Christmas, which we have just celebrated, and which continues to spread its joyful atmosphere over our meeting today. In her commitment to serve humanity and to build peace, the Church stands alongside all people of good will and she offers impartial cooperation. Together, each in his place and with his respective gifts, let us work to build an integral humanism which alone can guarantee a world of peace, justice and solidarity. In expressing this hope, I also pray to the Lord for all of you, for your families, for your staff, and for the peoples that you represent.