In the face of the unrelenting growth of global interdependence, there is a strongly felt need, even in the midst of a global recession, for a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth. One also senses the urgent need to find innovative ways of implementing the principle of the responsibility to protect[146] and of giving poorer nations an effective voice in shared decision-making. This seems necessary in order to arrive at a political, juridical and economic order which can increase and give direction to international cooperation for the development of all peoples in solidarity. To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority, as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII indicated some years ago. Such an authority would need to be regulated by law, to observe consistently the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, to seek to establish the common good[147], and to make a commitment to securing authentic integral human development inspired by the values of charity in truth. Furthermore, such an authority would need to be universally recognized and to be vested with the effective power to ensure security for all, regard for justice, and respect for rights[148]. Obviously it would have to have the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties, and also with the coordinated measures adopted in various international forums. Without this, despite the great progress accomplished in various sectors, international law would risk being conditioned by the balance of power among the strongest nations. The integral development of peoples and international cooperation require the establishment of a greater degree of international ordering, marked by subsidiarity, for the management of globalization[149]. They also require the construction of a social order that at last conforms to the moral order, to the interconnection between moral and social spheres, and to the link between politics and the economic and civil spheres, as envisaged by the Charter of the United Nations.
Notice the words “freedom” and “liberty” do not appear in the Pope’s remarks.
I’m a cradle Catholic with clergy in the family. I cut my teeth on tales of Catholicism. The history of the RCC has long included dedication to central authority and strict hierarchy. I believe a fellow named Luther complained about that dedication some time ago.
Pope Benedict’s remarks are completely in keeping with that dedication. Some people may have mistook Catholic opposition to godless communism’s global ambitions as opposition to the global component, when in fact the RCC was only opposed to the godlessness. Pope John Paul, the first pope in office after the fall of godless totalitarian ideologies, was discreet enough to mostly keep his silence on the issue. Pope Benedict, apparently, is not.
Chills went down my spine when I read, “Obviously it would have to have the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties.” For any of you who are wondering, the Pope is talking about armed authority.
It’s hard to put into words how disappointed I am that the Pope would write something like this. It reads like hard core commie agitprop. Almost sounds like the Pope is setting the stage for one world religion merged with one world government. I guess nothing should surprise me anymore.