"When Justice Is Compromised, Peace Itself Is Jeopardized" (Benedict XVI)

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sept.21.-  Benedict XVI received in audience the international leaders meeting at the Congress of the Centrist Democrat International taking place this year in Rome.

The Pope addressed this audience with emphasis on "religious liberty, which is a fundamental, irrepressible, inalienable and inviolable right rooted in the dignity of every human being and acknowledged by various international documents, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".

He also referred to terrorism as a serious problem "whose perpetrators often claim to act in God's name and harbour an inexcusable contempt for human life. Society naturally has a right to defend itself, but this right must be exercised with complete respect for moral and legal norms, including the choice of ends and means. In democratic systems, the use of force in a manner contrary to the principles of a constitutional State can never be justified." ...

Regarding the social teachings of the Catholic Church, His Holiness stressed the point that "the Church knows that it is not her specific task to see to the political implementation of this teaching: her objective is to help form consciences in political life, to raise awareness of the authentic requirements of justice, and to foster a greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest" (cf. "Deus Caritas Est," 28) ...

[ full text of the speech ]