Peace and coexistence guaranteed by objective moral, says Benedict XVI
Vatican City (AsiaNews) Benedict XVI urged the peoples of the world to place their "spiritual and cultural heritage and its ethical values at the service of the human family throughout the world".
In a message sent to the Second Conference on "Peace and Tolerance" on the theme of "Dialogue and Understanding in South-East Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia" held in Istanbul, the Pope said "only through dialogue can there be hope that the world will become a place of peace and fraternity".
The Pontiff stressed that a vague notion of tolerance and relativism cannot be the basis of living together, but the "respect for the inviolable and inalienable rights of all people".
He condemns once more the "moral relativism undermines the workings of democracy". "Without 'an objective moral grounding, not even democracy is capable of ensuring a stable peace'."
Finally, the Holy Father reaffirmed "the Catholic Church's strong commitment to work tirelessly for cooperation between peoples, cultures and religions".
The conference, which is taking place on November 7-9, was organised by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomaios I and Rabbi Arthur Schnier, chairman of the US-based Appeal of Conscience Foundation, whose mandate is to promote dialogue and understanding among the peoples of South-East Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Here is the full text of Benedict XVI's message to the Conference in Istanbul (English translation by AsiaNews):
To my venerable brother Cardinal Walter Kasper,
President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews:
I was pleased to be informed of the Second Conference on Peace and Tolerance, organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in conjunction with the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, on the theme: "Dialogue and Understanding in South-East Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia". I entrust you, Venerable Brother, with the task of conveying my cordial greetings to the participants who will be meeting in Istanbul during the coming days, as well as my appreciation for their strong commitment to fostering understanding and cooperation between the followers of different religions. In particular, I ask you to express my fraternal good wishes to His Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople and to assure Rabbi Arthur Schneider of my spiritual closeness at this time.
The themes of peace and tolerance are of vital importance in a world where rigid attitudes so often give rise to misunderstanding and suffering and can even lead to deadly violence. Dialogue is clearly indispensable if solutions are to be found to the harmful conflicts and tensions that cause so much damage to society. Only through dialogue can there be hope that the world will become a place of peace and fraternity.
It is the duty of every person of good will, and especially of every believer, to help build a peaceful society and to overcome the temptation towards aggressive and futile confrontation between different cultures and ethnic groups. Each of the world's peoples has a responsibility to make its own particular contribution to peace and harmony by placing its spiritual and cultural heritage and its ethical values at the service of the human family throughout the world. This goal can only be achieved if at the heart of the economic, social and cultural development of each community is a proper respect for life and for the dignity of every human person. A healthy society always promotes respect for the inviolable and inalienable rights of all people. Without "an objective moral grounding, not even democracy is capable of ensuring a stable peace" (Evangelium vitae, 70). In this sense, moral relativism undermines the workings of democracy, which by itself is not enough to guarantee tolerance and respect among peoples.
It is of fundamental importance, therefore, to educate in truth, and to foster reconciliation wherever there has been injury. Respect for the rights of others, bearing fruit in sincere and truthful dialogue, will indicate practical steps that can be taken. Every person of good will has a duty to work towards this goal. It is all the more urgent, however, for those who recognize in God the One who is Father of all, whose mercy is freely offered to all, who judges with justice and offers to all his life-giving friendship. For Christians, the Creator's generosity is visible in the face of Him whom God "made to be sin . . . so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21), Christ our peace and our true reconciliation.
As I entrust these thoughts to you Venerable Brother, I ask you, on the occasion of this Conference, to reaffirm the Catholic Church's strong commitment to work tirelessly for cooperation between peoples, cultures and religions, so that abundant graces and heavenly blessings will descend upon all God's children.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
From the Vatican, 4 November 2005
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