The economic crisis, which
was also discussed at the G20, is but another aspect of "severe"
problems such as "the continuing imbalance between wealth and poverty,
the scandal of hunger, environmental emergencies now also widespread,
and the problem of unemployment".
A situation
which, the Pope said today must be addressed by a change in the choices
of states, especially the rich ones, and of lifestyles.
Speaking in St Peter's Square where at least 40 thousand
people had gathered, many from Italian confraternities, before the
Angelus the Pope took his cue from today's celebration in Italy of the
Thanksgiving Sunday to address the economic crisis, while after the
Marian prayer, he called for peace for Iraq, solidarity for Haiti and
participation in a prayer vigil for the unborn, which he will celebrate
next Saturday, November 27.
Before the Angelus, Benedict XVI highlighted how "the
current economic crisis, also recently discussed by the so-called G20
meeting, must be addressed in all its seriousness, it has numerous
causes and strongly calls for a comprehensive review of the global
economic development model (see Enc. Caritas in Veritate, 21). It
is an acute symptom that is added to other more serious and already
well known ones, such as the continuing imbalance between wealth and
poverty, the scandal of hunger, environmental emergencies and the now
all too widespread problem of unemployment. In this context, it is a decisive strategic revitalization of agriculture is evidently needed. In
fact, the process of industrialization has sometimes overshadowed the
agricultural sector, which, while in turn benefiting from the knowledge
and modern techniques, has lost its importance, with significant
consequences on a cultural level. I think the time has come
for a call to reassess the agriculture sector, not in a nostalgic
sense, but as an indispensable resource for the future".
"In the current economic situation - he continued - the
temptation for the most dynamic economies is to seek out beneficial
alliances which, however, may prove more onerous for the poorest states,
prolonging the situation of extreme poverty for masses of men and women
and draining the Earth's natural resources, entrusted to
man by God the Creator - as the Book of Genesis tells us - to cultivate
and safeguard it (cf. 2:15). Moreover, despite the crisis,
in countries of ancient industrialization lifestyles of an unsustainable
consumption are still being encouraged, which are harmful both to the
environment and the poor. Therefore, a concerted effort
must be made to pursue a new balance between agriculture, industry and
services, so that development is sustainable, no-ne lack’s bread and
work, and the air, water and other primary resources are preserved as a universal goods (cf. Enc. Caritas in Veritate, 27). Key
to this is the nurturing and spreading of a clear ethical awareness,
capable of meeting the most complex challenges of our time, educate
everyone to a wise and responsible consumption, promote personal
responsibility along with the social dimension of rural activities,
based on perennial values such as hospitality, solidarity, sharing in the hard work. No
small amount of young people have already chosen this path, even many
graduates return to dedicate themselves to farming, thus wanting to
respond not only to a personal and family need, nut also to a sign of
the times, to a concrete feeling for the common good".
The gift of peace for Iraq was also invoked by the Pope
after the Angelus, together with an appeal to the international
community to "generously support" the people of Haiti, who "because of
the terrible earthquake in January, are now suffering for a serious outbreak of cholera. "
"On Saturday 27 November - he concluded - in St Peter's
Basilica, I will preside at Vespers for the first Sunday of Advent and a
prayer vigil for unborn life. The initiative is shared
with the particular Churches throughout the world and I've recommended
it be also held in parishes, religious communities, associations and
movements. The period of preparation for Christmas is a
good time to invoke divine protection upon every human being called into
existence, and also as a thanksgiving to God for the gift of life
received from our parents. "
SIC: AN/INT'L