POLITICIANS SHOULD implement policies that favour the family, Pope Francis said

Global leaders must implement policies that support the family and offer real opportunities for the growth and development of all people, Pope Francis told people attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“If we want a more secure future, one that encourages the prosperity of all, then it is necessary to keep the compass continually oriented toward ‘true North,’ represented by authentic values,” he wrote.

“Now is the time to take courageous and bold steps for our beloved planet. This is the right moment to put into action our responsibility to contribute to the development of humanity,” he told corporate and political leaders.

The Pope’s message was read at the meeting on January 22 by Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The annual meeting in Davos brought together people representing business, government, academia and media to discuss the theme, “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.” They were to address topics such as sustainable development and inclusive economies as well as challenges posed by cyber attacks and divisive “narratives.”

In his written message, the Pope said, “We are increasingly aware that there is a growing fragmentation between states and institutions.”

The Pope told world leaders and global executives that they must confront both new and lingering problems and challenges, such as unemployment, poverty, economic and social inequality, and new forms of slavery.

“It is vital to safeguard the dignity of the human person, in particular by offering to all people real opportunities for integral human development and by implementing economic policies that favour the family,” he said.

“We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of millions of people whose dignity is wounded,” he said, adding that it is a moral imperative for everyone “to create the right conditions to allow each person to live in a dignified manner.”

“By rejecting a ‘throwaway’ culture and a mentality of indifference, the entrepreneurial world has enormous potential to effect substantial change by increasing the quality of productivity, creating new jobs, respecting labor laws, fighting against public and private corruption and promoting social justice, together with the fair and equitable sharing of profits,” the Pope said.

“There is a grave responsibility to exercise wise discernment, for the decisions made will be decisive for shaping the world of tomorrow and that of future generations,” he added.      -Catholic Herald

During Papal visit, I encouraged  Church to purify & renew –Pope

HERE IS THE VATICAN-provided English-language summary of the Pope’s address at the General Audience this morning:

Speaker:

Dear brothers and sisters: In my recent Apostolic Journey to Chile and Peru, I had the joy of encountering God’s pilgrim people and encouraging the growth of social harmony in respect for the rich diversity of those nations. In Chile, I stressed the importance of listening to the voices of all: the poor, the young and the elderly, the immigrant and the voice of the earth itself. I encouraged the Church in its path of purification and renewal, and, appealing to the example of Saint Alberto Hurtado, I encouraged educators to help the young to share in the building of a just and inclusive society. In Peru, I expressed my confidence that the nation’s environmental, spiritual and cultural riches can contribute to to building unity and cooperation in meeting the grave challenges facing society. In my meeting with the Amazonian peoples, I stressed the importance of mutual respect and care for the natural environment. In Trujillo, hard hit by natural disasters, I invited all to work together in confronting the social problems of crime and the lack of education, employment and housing. In Lima, I concluded my visit to these two countries by appealing to the example of the saints and asking their intercession as the Church pursues the path of conversion and mission, and strives to be a messenger of unity, hope and peace for all peoples.

Speaker:

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Korea and the United States of America. In the context of this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, I offer a special greeting to the group from the Bossey Ecumenical Institute. I also greet the priests of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education of the Pontifical North American College. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!    

  -Zenit