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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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Says It Is Linked to Nuclear Nonproliferation
VIENNA, Austria, MAY 18, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation can work together to fight against terrorism and promote peace among nations, according to the Holy See.
Monsignor Michael Banach, the Holy See's permanent observer at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, said this at a preparatory meeting for the 2010 review of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
The nuclear nonproliferation treaty became international law in 1970. The 188 states that ratified it meet every five years to assess its implementation.
The first session of the preparatory commission ended May 11 in Vienna, and discussed preparations for the 8th Review Conference.
The Vatican representative called the 2005 Review Conference "less than satisfactory," since "it was not possible to adopt a substantial consensus document on account of the differences existing within the international community."
Three elements
In Monsignor Banach's address, he called for reflection on three elements leading up to the next review conference.
"A first element for our reflection is the recognition of the strong bond that exists between nuclear disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation," he said.
"They are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and their transparent and responsible implementation represents one of the principal instruments not only in the fight against nuclear terrorism, but also in the concrete realization of a culture of life and of peace capable of promoting the integral development of peoples in an effective way," Monsignor Banach added.
The 44-year-old priest considered the second element for reflection to be the need to create a climate of confidence and cooperation within the forum.
He said a "prevalence of individual interests over collective security" risked "weakening even further the already fragile frameworks on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament."
"The [treaty] represents a fundamental pillar in nuclear nonproliferation, furnishing the legal basis not only for international verification on nuclear material, under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency, but also for the elimination of nuclear weapons," he continued.
Monsignor Banach called for reflection on a third point: "The need to raise awareness within the international community so that it might be more ambitious in making the [treaty] an adequate instrument in the promotion of peace and international security."
The Holy See official encouraged "an analysis and determination of practical steps" to respond to problems in the process of disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation.
"The foundations of peace are built upon respect for human life and the primacy of the rule of law," he said. "The principal aim of the rule of law is, in fact, to substitute 'the material force of arms with the moral force of law.'"
Code: ZE07051806
Date: 2007-05-18
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Bishop Sgreccia Says British Decision Offends Dignity
VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2007 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican official lamented a British government decision to drop its opposition to forming hybrid animal-human embryos for stem cell research.
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said Thursday's decision to reject a proposed ban on the process is offensive to human dignity.
"The creation of a hybrid animal-human embryo has been banned by everyone in the biotechnology field, until now -- and not just by religious groups," Bishop Sgreccia said. "This is because human dignity is compromised and offended and monstrosities will be created from these inseminations.
"It is true that these embryos are suppressed and the cells taken out, but the creation of an animal-human being represents a natural border that has been violated, the most grave of violations."
In an interview with Vatican Radio, he called for a complete moral condemnation of the practice, "in the name of reason and in the name of justice and science, which must be maintained for the well being of the person and respect for human nature."
Uncalculated consequences
Bishop Sgreccia said he hopes that the international scientific community continues to hold the line, to defend "the conservation and respect of the species."
"The human individual has not been respected because embryos are destroyed and sacrificed in many ways, as in the case of these artificial inseminations," the 78-year-old bishop said. "But the line between the species had always been respected. Now, this barrier too has been broken and the consequences have not been calculated.
"The fact is that there was no reason to do this. If they are looking for stem cells in order to cure Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, there is no need to create a hybrid animal-human embryo, because there are adult stem cells, and stem cells in umbilical cords and those in the adult male to be able to battle these frontiers in faith."
"The scientist who is only worried about advancing his research does not take into consideration the anthropological and philosophical factors, like respect for nature and the natural order.
"There is a thirst for knowledge that must be maintained inside certain limits, a thirst to experiment that can upset the moral sense of the one carrying out the experiments, if he is not controlled by a sense of balance and human reason."
Code: ZE07051805
Date: 2007-05-18
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VATICAN CITY, Friday, May 18, 2007 (ZENIT.org).- Benedict XVI says that the Church in Africa must be an instrument of reconciliation, and that this challenge will be a key topic in the upcoming bishops' synod.
The Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops will have as its theme "The Church in Africa at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace," and is scheduled to take place in Rome in 2009.
The Pope spoke of the meeting to bishops of Mali who were at Castel Gandolfo today for their five-yearly visit.
The Holy Father told them: "While the Church in your continent prepares to celebrate the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, the task of the faithful for reconciliation, justice and peace is an urgent one.
"The laity must acquire a renewed awareness of their special mission within the one mission of the Church, and of the spiritual requirements this brings with it."
Benedict XVI added: "Working to build up a society of justice, solidarity and brotherhood," the baptized "will become authentic messengers of the good news of Jesus and will contribute to the coming of God's kingdom, sanctifying the world and infusing it with the spirit of the Gospel."
Code: ZE07051804
Date: 2007-05-18
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VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Prayer and sacramental life are pastoral priorities for priests, even if they are called to take on great missionary challenges, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said this today, in an audience in Castel Gandolfo with priests and bishops of Mali, Africa. The prelates were in Italy for their five-yearly visit with the Holy Father and members of the Roman Curia.
The Pontiff told them: "The life of prayer and the sacraments are an authentic pastoral priority for priests, that will help them to respond with determination to the call to holiness that they have received from the Lord and to their mission of guiding the faithful along this same path.
"He who prays does not waste his time, even if the situation has all the markings of being an emergency and seems to push us towards action alone."
In Mali, a country that is 90% Muslim, there are 71,233 people to every priest.
Benedict XVI asked the bishops to pay "particular attention to the emotional maturity" of seminarians, which will "help them to respond freely to a life of celibacy and chastity, a precious gift of God, and to maintain a firm and stable conscience throughout their lives."
Code: ZE07051803
Date: 2007-05-18
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VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The collaboration of Christians and Muslims to promote justice and peace is possible and therefore necessary, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope made these remarks today, during the five-yearly visit of the bishops of Mali.
Of Mali's 11.5 million people, some 90% are Muslim and only 2% are Catholic.
The Holy Father expressed his "satisfaction with the fact that Catholic faithful in Mali maintain cordial relations with their Muslim compatriots."
He added: "It is vital that due attention is paid to deepening your knowledge of Muslims to favor friendship and fruitful collaboration between Christians and Muslims.
"It is right that the identity of each community should be able to express itself visibly in reciprocal respect, recognizing the religious diversity of the national community and favoring a serene coexistence, at every level of society."
"Then it will be possible to walk together," Benedict XVI continued, "in a common effort for justice, unity and peace."
Code: ZE07051802
Date: 2007-05-18
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Focusing on Juridical and Financial Questions
VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2007 (Zenit.org).- For the first time in five years, those responsible for negotiations between the Holy See and Israel will meet after Israeli representatives cancelled a March meeting at the last minute.
The meeting is planned for Monday in the Vatican, and will take place during the plenary session of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the state of Israel, an organization that last met in 2002, www.AsiaNews.it reported Thursday.
The Holy See's delegation will be headed by Monsignor Pietro Parolin, undersecretary for the Vatican Secretariat of State's Section for Relations with States, according to Vatican Radio.
The meeting will address negotiations on the "comprehensive agreement." Discussions will include the security of the Church's religious properties in Israel and the confirmation of historical tax exemptions, which the Church had at the time of Israel's establishment and that the United Nations ruled Israel must uphold.
This "comprehensive agreement" was mandated by the Fundamental Agreement, which Israel and the Holy See signed in 1993. Despite this agreement, negotiations since 1999 have had little progress.
"Writing a treaty of such complexity is a labor-intensive task, and, more than anything else, it requires time," Father David Jaeger, an expert in Israel-Holy See relations, told AsiaNews.
"There is no objective reason why the talks should not succeed," Father Jaeger added. "The Church is simply expecting further formal recognition of rights it has already acquired, as well as some fundamental guarantees for the legal security of her sacred places.
"It should cost Israel nothing to agree to this, and it would also be in accordance with public promises that Israel has made many times over the decades."
Code: ZE07051801
Date: 2007-05-18