Pope urges integral human formation against "dictatorship of relativism"
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Only an integral human formation that searches for truth can "oppose the new dictatorship, that of relativism combined with the domination of technology." In fact, no one should "fear the truth" that is "inextricably linked to freedom. Truth is a friend of man and his freedom" and "only the search for truth, goodness and beauty can offer a future to young people. "
This was the message offered today by Benedict XVI drawn from the experiences of his pastoral journey to the Czech Republic last Saturday to Monday. The Pope thanked God for the success of the visit and spoke about its highlights today to the 10 thousand people in the St Peter’s Square for the general audience.
His journey to Bohemia and Moravia, "was both a true pilgrimage and a mission to the heart of Europe", a pilgrimage for the many saints and blesseds of that people, and "because Bohemia and Moravia have for over one thousand years been territories of faith and holiness. A mission, because Europe needs to find in God and His love the firm foundation of hope".
"The love of Christ began to reveal itself in the face of a child," he said then, recalling that he began his pilgrimage with a visit to Our Lady of the Victories where the "Child of Prague” is custodied. It "reminds us of the mystery of God made man, God close to us, the foundation of our hope". "I prayed for children, parents and the future of families". Prague Castle, in the words of the Pope, "contains numerous monuments, environments, institutions, almost like a polis: the cathedral, the palace, the square, the garden. Thus I could touch both the civil and religious which are not juxtaposed but in a harmonious closeness in their distinction"
“It is this indissoluble bond which must always exist between freedom and truth". "Do not be afraid of the truth, because it is a friend of man and only love for the beautiful and the true can offer a future to young people". "Those with positions of responsibility in politics and education must always find light in the truth that is a reflection of the eternal wisdom of the Creator and are called to witness this with their own lives" and “only with a serious commitment to intellectual and moral rectitude can they show themselves worthy of the sacrifice of those who paid the ultimate price for freedom".
This is particularly important in this "difficult time for Eastern Europe that the consequences of atheistic communism suffers the effects of Western consumerism." This, Benedict XVI recalled that he had urged Christians to "be a leaven of the Gospel in society, engaging in charitable activities and even more educational and school.
Moravia, the Pope continued, "makes one think immediately of Cyril and Methodius, evangelisers of the Slav peoples, and therefore the inexhaustible power of the Gospel, which like a river runs through history and continents, bringing light and salvation". "Love of Christ is our strength," a statement he added that "resonates with the faith of many heroic witnesses in the remote and recent past, I think particularly of the last century, but above all that wants to understand the certainty of Christians today”. Love of Christ, for Benedict XVI, is, in fact, "a force that inspires and animates real revolution, peaceful and free, and which sustains us in times of crisis, allowing us to rise again when painfully recovered freedom is in danger of being lost, of loosing its true meaning”.
Continuing to retrace the steps of his visit, Benedict XVI recalled the ecumenical meeting in the Archbishops residence, where representatives of various Christian and Jewish communities were present. "Looking back at history, and the bitter conflicts of the past, it is a cause for gratitude to God to have found ourselves together to share our faith and historical responsibility in the face of current challenges". "The effort to move towards a more full and visible unity among us makes our joint commitment to rediscover the Christian roots of Europe stronger and more effective ".
The "common commitment to rediscover the Christian roots of Europe" also emerged in the pope’s encounter with the academic world. In this context, Benedict XVI recalled that he insisted on the role of universities. "The University - concluded the pope - is a vital environment for society, ensuring peace and development, as demonstrated by the so-called Velvet Revolution. 20 years on from then, I raised the idea of integral human formation to counter a new dictatorship that of relativism combined with the domination of technology. "
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