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.
Clean your own house. Get the child molesters out of the church AND don't tell me you didn't know about it
Nothing in the Church tolerates that behavior.
I wonder why I reply to a one star troll.
The Pope should take a vow of poverty, sell all the church art and treasures, and give all the gold away.
Feed the needy.
So far the only money I've read that they have given away is to victims of their clergy.
Shutup and stick to Popeing
With all due respect, Holy Father, shut up. This UN project will be just as successful as the Oil for Food Program -- as successful at lining the pockets of ole Koffi and his pals.
Pope Aziz concrete commitments
The Pope said war should be a last resort. His prudential opinion of when "last resort" occurs is obviously different than that of President Bush. It's unlikely that the Pope, who believes in the redemption of all men, including his own assassin, Mehmet Ali Agca, would ever advocate waging war.
Much of what comes out of the Vatican attributed to the Pope must be taken with a grain of salt and filtered. Take into consideration the agency filing the report and the Vatican personnel, most of whom do not speak for the Pontiff, making the statements.
There are a lot of politicians at the Vatican. Like ticket punchers in the military or chaff amongst the wheat. Saint Athanasius wrote that the floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops. I would venture to say that there are a lot of sappers in the wire in the Vatican whose skulls will someday be found in hell.
Do you think Karl Marx was right or wrong?
Well --- I am a Catholic --- but I think Jesus might have made a distinction between personal salvation and the government. Charity is when you take out your wallet and give freely to someone in need --- and that's what we should do --- when someone else takes out your wallet --- it's robbery. The government has no business confiscating our money to redistribute it to those who didn't work for it.
It's confusing --- this Pope was strongly against "liberation theology" back some time ago --- because of the Marxism --- so either his words are being twisted or he isn't his old self. Liberation theology put a Christian slant to Marxism --- and he saw right through that --- it seems odd that he would even pretend to go along with something like this UN garbage.
"not his to sell...."
and we are not his to tax
I haven't read all the comments and maybe others have pointed this out already: When you visit the Vatican it is astounding to see the wealth on display there in precious metals and stones - only an infinitesimally small fraction of what is stored is displayed - it must be worth billions or trillions of dollars. I always think of my visit to Rome and the treasures I saw there when I hear these hypocritical pronouncements. And just think of the value of all the land held by these people all over the world - it boggles the mind.
Still --- the American Founding Fathers weren't Catholic --- they came from Protestant backgrounds which did influence them in some important ways. I think one can be a Catholic and still recognize what brought about good things in this country which didn't happen in others --- and it's not just natural resources which are available --- certain all of South and Central America are very very wealthy in natural resources --- and why does Latin America -- with it's Catholic tradition seem to have so many problems with Socialism and poverty when the USA and Canada do not?
'How's he propose to do this.'
in cahoots with the UN after a Pres. Kerry surrounders the U.S. governing powers over to them
Not all of Latin America has problems. Chile and Costa Rica are pretty nice.
Cuba was taken over by communists in the 1950's.
Mexico was taken over by communists in the 1920's.
Argentina and Brazil and Uruguay got a heavy dose of socialism in the 1930's (just like the US and Britain and elsewhere) they have never recovered from. Before that, these were some of the wealthiest countries on earth.
I'm less familiar with the cause of problems in Venzuela, Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia.
Pretty much though, America has been derelict in its duty of keeping out the political infections of Europe from Latin America.
But why were Catholics so easy for the Communists to take over?
Many --- like Mexico still are --- Mexico is a very wealthy country --- it's ex-presidents actually get 10 times what USA ex-presidents receive. Yes --- that's $5 million every year for every Mexican ex-president -- and there are 5 of them. Mexico competes with Great Britain in number of billionaires but it's built around a very classist society where the majority of people are very poor. All Latin American countries are wealthy in natural resources but the Catholic societies in them didn't work toward building up a large and strong middle class. Some might have been generous in giving alms to the beggars outside their churches after Mass --- but that doesn't prevent instability like having a big middle class does.
In any case, so what if the Pope is wrong? He's been right more often during the last century. In any case he is old and still surrounded by enemies in the Vatican, you could consider giving Him a little charity, it's not like YOU have to wake up every day knowing you will have to render and account for the whole world for that day; and all the proceeding days during your tenure?
I don't think the Rockefeller's helped much. IF it WAS Catholic culture that was inimical to the middle classes, why don't we see similar situations in Ireland, Poland?... OH wait that's right they were backwards too, and in their case it ALSO had nothing to do with a powerful Protestant neighbors who had no qualms about despoiling those damn papists (who aren't even real Christians anyway!). Or for that matter why, if Catholic culture is so belligerent towards the middle class, did the whole impetus for the rise of a middle class of artisans and traders begin, and flourish, in the most Catholic of all countries, namely Italy, and that from it, through direct trade with it, this revolution of the merchant class spread to northern Europe?
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