Posted on 09/26/2004 8:30:20 AM PDT by FITZ
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) -- Pope John Paul II denounced the "imbalance" between the world's rich and poor Sunday and applauded efforts to eliminate hunger, like the recent U.N. initiative to increase funds for development.
The 84-year-old pontiff had to stop for breath every few words as he spoke to a few hundred pilgrims and tourists in his last Sunday appearance this season at his summer palace in the hill town of Castel Gandolfo. John Paul has Parkinson's disease, making it difficult for him to walk and to pronounce his words.
The pontiff said Sunday's Gospel passage about Lazarus, an impoverished beggar who ate the scraps from a rich man's table, was "ever more appropriate in reference to the problem of the imbalance between the riches and poverty of the world today."
On Monday, the presidents of Brazil and France encouraged 110 countries to back a new declaration to fight hunger and poverty and to increase funds for development. More than 50 heads of state or government joined in a debate at the United Nations on the impact of globalization and on ways to finance the war on poverty.
John Paul called the U.N. meeting important and said it was aimed at "a more united and efficient action against hunger and poverty." He noted the Vatican's No. 2 official, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who is the city-state's secretary of state, participated in the debate and pledged the Holy See's support for the initiative.
The United States didn't join in the pledge to fight hunger and poverty. The Bush administration objected to proposals for international taxes as undemocratic and impossible to implement.
John Paul reiterated his Church's backing.
"The Catholic Church assures all its commitment to eradicating the scourge of hunger and the other consequences of poverty from the world," the pope said.
He prayed that God would "sustain the efforts of the international community aimed at justice and solid development. This, in fact, is the path which can guarantee to the world a future of peace."
John Paul also offered prayers on prayers for families and populations "most tried by the unfair distribution of wealth that God destines for all his children."
While the pope struggled with his brief speech Sunday, he announced he was forging ahead with his grueling schedule. After again taking up residence at the Vatican on Wednesday, he will lead a long beatification ceremony on Oct. 3 in St. Peter's Square.
I was thinking the same thing. Lead by example. Let's see the cardinals, bishops, and the pope be the first by cracking open the vault of the Catholic church. My guess is there is enough in wealth in them to feed all of Africa for years at least!
Has he been through the Vatican Museums lately? Who owns all that stuff?
I'm not Catholic, but I believe that no child should go unfed. If we would stop paying bribes to the UN and every other jerk leader who enhances their own bank account, I think the world would be a better place.
Did the pope say he was worshiping the Koran? For all we know he was praying that all Muslims would be converted to Roman Catholicism. You'd have to ask him what he meant by his gesture. To you it means one thing; to him it probably meant something very different. You can bet he wasn't praying to it.
This man is kept so out of touch by his handlers that he feels he is doing the right thing. However, he needs to be more in touch with the spiritual part of the church and less concerned with those things he is not involved with.
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Again, let me state that Pope John Paul II is doing exactly what the early Christian Church did. What he says is nothing new.
If it appears new . . .
To a large extent, yes, it does.
I come from a country where 90 per cent of the populace is catholic.
Irrelevant.
I think that qualifies enough to be able to judge if the catholic church is as righteous as it claims to be.
righteous (Merriam-Webster) 1 : acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin
The Catholic Church has never claimed to be free from guilt or sin. We know we don't always act in accord with divine or moral law. That's why we are so happy to have the Sacrament of Confession.
Are you denouncing the child abuses by priests and NUNS ?
Figure it out for yourself, Einstein.
Do you agree that the vatican refuses to extradite 3 priests to America to be tried for sexual abuses on CHILDREN ?
Give me details with verifiable sources.
I can not defend an institution that regards child abuse as a minor offence.
This comment proves beyond a doubt your ignorance of the Catholic Faith.
Didn't I read in the Bible that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a wealthy man to get to heaven?
If I did, I guess the author was not an Objectivist.
Who was the man?
Or were you just feeling "theologically creative" today?
That being said, there is no sacrifice when someone is told to be charitable. If I give freely it is a blessing and glory to God. Taking what I have to give to the poor is not a blessing nor glory to God, it is stealing. JPII needs to understand this. We will not be forced to be holy. We can only be holy of our own accord.
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BINGO!!!
I believe that also --- all fathers should be able to work decent enough jobs so that they can support their families and have a little left over --- which is what the middle class society was all about. We should not be serfs or slaves but free people like the America Founders wanted.
$1 says there is no such thing found in the Bible.
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No such thing in the Bible? lolol. When was the last time you picked one up?
The Acts of the Apostles. Good read. So is the Book of James.
Heck, the entire Book is a great read.
Send that Dollar to Catholic Charities, please.
Catholic Charities USA
1731 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703.549.1390
Fax: 703.549.1656
As you are well aware, I share your views on domestic capitalism, where our Founders have provided a Constitutional system of checks and balances to establish a moral and level playing field for economic competition.
Unfortunately, in a 21st Century of globalization, such a system of checks and balances does not exist on an international scale. And even though I'm opposed to the globalization trend in favor of our own national sovereignty, it may be necessary to permanently shackle global corporatism with its evil twin, global socialism, in hopes that the two extremes eventually destroy each other.
I'm staying a Catholic --- when Jesus turned over the Church to Peter --- he did so knowing Peter had been weak before the Crucifixion and had betrayed him --- 3 times even. There will be another pope in a short time. I think the bullet from that Muslim is what weakened this one.
I agree.
These new sayings are not typical for the JP we've come to know and love.
Something's wrong.
I wonder who is waiting in the wings to take over once he's gone.
I agree --- we need a return to the Constitution and the checks and balances --- especially against unfair taxation --- just like now --- American labor has a very unfair disadvantage with all our many taxes and very large government with very large Socialist programs --- we cannot work as cheaply as those in third world countries who have very few taxes to pay.
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