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.
If Catholicism believes the Pope is the ruling authority. And Prostentants believe the Bible is the authority. How can you stay Catholic in a time where it is painfully obvious that more fundamentalism in needed and the Pope is a only a figurehead.
BTW, thanks for talking to me about this.
"Why is that strange? They are not his to sell."
Neither is mine for him to take.
Socialism is Government control of the production and distribution of goods and services. Socialists/communists have same goal Control the people!
Yes. And it is the father, not government, who is responsible for feeding his children.
The Bible says that if a man does not provide for his family, he is worse than an infidel - the ultimate lowlife.
I know the Founding Fathers were influenced more by the Protestant work ethic, self-governance, and Calvinist lifestyles --- and I respect all those --- but what has happend to the Protestant Churches? They've split up many times into so many denominations --- how could you select one? The ones of the Founding Fathers are pretty much empty churches now --- they've been replaced by Evangelical churches. Which I have nothing against --- but I just don't lean that way.
Also I don't condemn this Pope --- his life was almost ended by that Muslim who tried to kill him --- and I think he's lived a life of pain and surgeries and illness ever since --- probably of painkillers also. I think everything would likely be different if he almost hadn't been murdered.
I fully disagree with the head of the church. If the poor want to get more wealthy, let them work for it!
What you are discribing, is a home owner association or a coop. ;)
These people WERE FREE to choose whether they wanted to be together or not.
What the pope is unwittingly advocating is SECULAR world communism . (can you say oil for palaces?)
POPE SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO LIQUIDATE CHURCH’S WEALTH TO HELP THE POOR
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The treasures of the Church do not belong to the Pope. They belong to the entire Church. The Pope has considered selling everything to assist the poor. But then what would happen? After every person now living gets his $100 from the sale of every historic treasure, those treasures would go to private collectors. The world would be the loser.
YES, there are that many "poor" people on the face of the earth. Each person would only collect approximately $100 from the sale of ALL the Catholic Church's holdings. I can't locate my source on the Internet, but it's out there in an article I read about 3 years ago.
The treasures of the Catholic Church are archived and in Museums for the entire world (well sans a few bomb-clad islamics) to see.
Please do some historical research before saying what a sitting Pope should do, in your opinion.
Thank you from the bottom of my little Roman Catholic heart.
The Pope has allowed himself to become a useful idiot for those who wish to trash Christianity, freedom and human rights.
That article has nothing about child molesters kept safe in the Vatican.
I'm glad the Pope feels this way. Maybe he can give part of the Vaticans billions to our little church here on Maui.
Then you shouldn't have posted that misleading link about the Vatican protecting child molesters.
Yep. Kofi Annan can be a useful idiot.
If the WTO and transnational corporations want to usurp and overpower our Constitutional sovereignty, let Kofi suck the lifeblood out of 'em. See if I care.
I agree with you on that point. The relics create income at the vatican museum.
When the pope turns the Vatican into a rescue mission, I'll listen to this sort of socialist claptrap.
This link says nothing of anyone being kept in safety.
If you're going to paraphrase, you need to do it well.
Also, I noticed you said you remember "I shall not lie" from your days of Catholicism. Is that the 11th commandment?
The pope is one step away from god; and now he's confined to a wheelchair - terrible irony.
Catholic Charities used that dollar to sue the State of MN to take away the right to effective self defense there.
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