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Month: July 2016

Holy See addresses UN Trade and Development meeting

(Vatican Radio) The Holy See has addressed the XIV Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The full text of the intervention is below.
 
Intervention of H.E. Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Apostolic Nuncio,
Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and other
International Organizations in Geneva
at the XIV Ministerial Conference of UNCTAD
Nairobi, 19th July 2016
Mr. President,
 
At the outset, the Holy See wishes to thank warmly the Government of Kenya  and  the  city  of  Nairobi  for hosting  this Ministerial  Conference.  The  theme  “From  Decision  to  Action:  moving  toward  an  inclusive  and  equitable  global  economic  environment for trade and development” clearly signals the ambition and intent we  must bring to the attention of the international community.
1.  The  Holy  See  strongly  supported  the  original  aspiration  of  UNCTAD which aimed at creating a global trading system supporting the development of poor  countries:  a  system  able  to  promote  the  rebalancing  of  international  economic  relations  to  promote  justice  and  equity,  to  promote  social  progress  and  better  standards of life in  greater freedom, to create a better and more effective system of  international economic cooperation, as part of a new and just global economic order  whereby the division of the world into areas of poverty and plenty may be overcome and  prosperity  achieved  by  all.  This  system  facilitates  regional  trade  and  corrects imbalances  between  different  trade  partners,  with  special  concern  for  trade  in  raw  materials and food. The  last  conference  in  Doha  took  place  during  a  critical  phase  of  the  world  economic  crisis  which  left  many  governments  struggling  to  offset  the  effects  of  financial retrenchments in  banks, businesses  and households as they seek to correct their  balance  sheets.  In  this  context,  many  developed  economies  have  turned  to  “unconventional” monetary policy instruments in efforts at recovery.
2.  The  trade  slowdown  of  the  last  three  years  has  been  widespread  across  most of the developing and developed countries. Average trade growth rates for all  regions  are  now  very  low  and  just  a  fraction  of  what  they  were  in  the  pre-crisis  period. The reasons for the ongoing trade slowdown are to be found in a variety of  factors. While some of these factors are likely to have only temporary effects and  are  possible  cyclical  in  nature,  others  are  likely  to  be  more  long  lasting  and  related  to  structural shifts. As usual, it is very  difficult to make predictions, but there are still  valid  reasons  to  believe  that trade growth  in  the  future  will  be  driven  by  different  factors than in the past. This implies that developing countries willing to benefit from  international  trade  should  be  ready  to  adapt  their  trade  strategies  by  taking  into  account some of the recent changes in trends in international trade. Economic  and  financial  actors,  both  at  the  international  and  national  levels,  need to recognize that economic activities  function not  only through self-regulation  of  the  market  and  agreements  limited  to  reconciling  the  interests  of  the  most  powerful countries, but they need also to take into account that they are at the service  of  persons  who  work  and  contribute  to  development.  Most  importantly  any  development and growth strategy needs  to be centred on the human person and on  the  primacy  of  human  work.  The  Holy  See  believes  that  in  order  to  achieve  this  result  it  is  of  primary  importance  to  integrate  the  different  social  and  economic dimensions of development,  so as  to create an international system balanced on an  idea of  development that would  be truly sustainable,  inclusive and equitable at all  levels.
3.  In  this  sense,  agriculture  plays  a  crucial  role  in  the  economy  of  poor  countries: it accounts for more than one fourth of  the  GDP and more than a third of  employment,  reaching  more  than  50%  in  the  poorest  countries.  Promoting  agricultural  productivity  is  important  for  several  reasons.  First,  it  addresses  the  problem of food insecurity which still plagues a large part of the population of LDCs.  Despite  the  recent  improvement  in  economic  conditions  throughout  the  world  hunger is still claiming too many lives among the poorest Agricultural development is also crucial in terms of  global sustainability. It is  well known that in developing countries there is a high concentration of forest and  ecosystems  that  are  crucial  for  ecological  development.  In  these  countries  agricultural  production  is  intimately  linked  with  natural  resources  exploitation,  deforestation and biodiversity preservation. The opportunity to combine agricultural  development  with  ecological  sustainability  has  too  enormous  stakes  and  consequences for the entire planet for it not to be considered a priority action.
In  this  respect,  trade  can  be  an  important  channel  for  fostering  agricultural  development in local communities;  moreover,  the development of small farmers and  small  producers  could  be  vital  not  only  in  reducing  poverty  but  also  in  providing  new ways for preserving local ecosystems.  In the agricultural sector there is in fact  the  danger  that  its  development  could  ultimately  damage  small  farmers.  Civil  authorities have the right and duty to adopt clear and firm measures in support of  small producers and differentiated production
4.  The  international  trading  system  is  regulated  by  an  increasing  number  of  preferential trade agreements  (PTAs). Most of the recent trade agreements address  not  only  goods  but  also  services,  and  deal  with  rules  beyond  reciprocal  tariff  concessions.  The Holy See strongly stresses the importance of recognising a primacy  of multilateral agreements over bilateral and regional ones. Despite its limits and its  complexity,  the  multilateral  framework  gives  pluralism  a  universal  dimension  and  facilitates an inclusive dialogue.  More  specifically  in  a  multilateral  framework  weaker  and  smaller  countries  are better safeguarded than in a regional and bilateral setting where the counterparts  are  large  and  strong  countries.  In  such  asymmetric  settings  advanced  economies  inevitably have more bargaining power with respect to LDCs, with the result that the  latter are not fully able to benefit  from the agreements.
5.  The  issue  of  foreign  debt  and  the  alleviation  of  the  debt  burden  for  poor  countries  remain  a  major  concern  for  the  Holy  See.  In  fact  the  Holy  Father  has  recently  made  an  appeal  to  the  leaders  of  nations  to  “to  forgive  or  manage  in  a  sustainable  way  the  international  debt  of  the  poorer  nations” The  debt  of  developing countries must be placed in a broader context of economic, political and  technological  relations  which  has  brought  an  increased  interdependence  between  countries,  as  well  as  the  need  for  international  collaboration  in  pursuing  the  objectives of the common good. This interdependence should give rise to a new and  broader concept of solidarity that respect the equal dignity of all peoples, rather than  leading  to  domination  by  the  strongest,  national  self-interest,  inequalities  and  injustices.  As  Pope  Francis  stated,  “It  must  never  be  forgotten  that  political  and  economic  activity  is  only  effective  when  it  is  understood  as  a  prudential  activity,  guided  by  a  perennial  concept  of  justice  and  constantly  conscious  of  the  fact  that,  above  and  beyond  our  plans  and  programs,  we  are  dealing  with  real  men  and  women who live, struggle and suffer, and are often forced to live in great poverty,  deprived of all rights.”
The  Addis  Ababa  Action  Agenda  (AAAA)  provides  a   clear  mandate  to  address  the  vulture  funds  problem  The  role  of  UNCTAD  in  helping  developing  countries  to  attain  such  long-term  debt  sustainability  has  been  of  great  importance  and  will  remain  indispensable  for  the  foreseeable  future.  In  this  sense,  it  is  crucial  that UNCTAD continues its research and analysis of the international financial and  monetary  system  and  price  volatility  of  commodities  and  it  should  propose  recommendations  to  address  the  problems  in  financial  markets  that  result  in macroeconomic instability, distortions of international trade and increased levels of  poverty and inequality.
In conclusion Mr. President,
6.  The  international  community  should  use  this  Conference  outcome  document as an instrument also to promote innovative economic policies, to support  the  development  of  agricultural  sector  in  poor  areas  and  to  promote  the  SME  participation in global and South-South trade. These policies need adequately fund  through  development  aid,  aimed  at  fulfilling  the  needs  of  the  poorest  and  marginalized segments of the world population. Given the productive, technological  and scientific capacities  of the world economy in the 21st century, the  international  community cannot  wait until the end of the current global economic crisis, or until
the  transition  of  least  developing  countries  into  emerging  economies,  in  order  to  fulfill the fundamental human rights that millions of people are still not enjoying,  in  particular, but not exclusively, in Africa.
7.  The Holy See believes that this Conference should therefore aim at a high  level of ambition and should focus on how the international community will ensure  that  UNCTAD  plays  its  full  and  meaningful  role  in  supporting  the  new  global  development agenda, with a particular attention to the needs of poor countries and  of  the  poor  people.  UNCTAD  XIV  should  address  the  contemporary  needs  and  priorities  of  developing  countries  in  the  current  volatile  and  unbalanced  global  environment.  As stated by Pope Francis,  It is important that ethics once again play its  due  part  in  the  world  of  finance  and  that  markets  serve  the  interests  of  peoples  and  the  common good of humanity
In fact, we should reaffirm that  an essential ingredient for  an  enabling  international  environment  for  development  is  a  healthy  and  positive  approach to the issue of good global governance.
(from Vatican Radio)…

Pope Francis to Dominicans: embody mercy in life

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a telegram to the Master General of the Order of Preachers – the Dominicans – who are currently holding the General Chapter of Priors Provincial in the central Italian city of Bologna.
The General Chapter of Priors General is the second of three specific kinds of General Chapters, each being held at three-year intervals for a 9-year cycle that ends with the election of a new Master General. The sequence begins with General Chapter of delegates – called “diffinitors” in Dominican parlance; then the General Chapter of Priors Provincial; and then, the Elective General Chapter.
This General Chapter of Priors Provincial is taking place in the context of the 800 th anniversary of the confirmation of the Order under Pope Honorius III, and in the middle of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
In his telegram, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis expresses the hope that all Dominicans find the spiritual wherewithal to rededicate themselves to the charism and legacy of St Dominic their Founder, who was, “a tireless apostle of grace and forgiveness, compassionate towards the poor and an ardent defender of truth.” The Holy Father also calls on all Dominicans, saying, “Testify to mercy, professing it and embodying it in life.”
Click below to hear our report

Pope Francis’ telegram concludes with an exhortation to the whole Dominican family and all its members to be signs of the nearness and tenderness of God, that society might in this day rediscover the urgency of solidarity, love, and forgiveness.
Please find the full text of the English translation prepared by the Dominicans, below
***********************************************
R BRUNO CADORE, OP
MASTER GENERAL
ORDER OF PREACHERS
CONVENTO SANTA SABINA
PIAZZA PIETRO D’ILLIRIA, 1
00153 ROMA
ON THE OCCASION OF THE GENERAL CHAPTER OF THE PRIORS PROVINCIAL OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS, TAKING PLACE IN BOLOGNA, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY AND OF THE EIGHT HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONFIRMATION OF THE ORDER BY POPE HONORIUS III, HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS, IN SENDING HIS CORDIAL AND GOOD WISHES, INVOKES THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, RECALLING THAT MERCY IS THE PILLAR THAT SUPPORTS THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH.
ALL OF ITS PASTORAL ACTION MUST BE EMBRACED BY TENDERNESS AND NOTHING OF ITS PROCLAMATION OR WITNESS BEFORE THE WORLD CAN BE WITHOUT MERCY. THE CREDIBILITY OF THE CHURCH COMES THROUGH THE PATH OF MERCIFUL AND COMPASSIONATE LOVE WHICH GIVES NEW LIFE AND THE COURAGE TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH HOPE.
THE HOLY FATHER WISHES THAT ALL WHO FOLLOW THE CHARISM OF SAINT DOMINIC – TIRELESS APOSTLE OF GRACE AND FORGIVENESS, COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS THE POOR AND AN ARDENT DEFENDER OF TRUTH – SHOULD TESTIFY TO MERCY, PROFESSING IT AND EMBODYING IT IN LIFE, AND SHOULD BE SIGNS OF THE NEARNESS AND TENDERNESS OF GOD, SO THAT SOCIETY TODAY MIGHT REDISCOVER THE URGENCY OF SOLIDARITY, LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.
WHILE REQUESTING YOUR PRAYERS TO SUPPORT HIS PETRINE MINISTRY, HE, THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY AND OF ALL THE SAINTS OF THE DOMINICAN FAMILY, IMPARTS TO YOU, AS WELL AS TO ALL THE CAPITULAR FRIARS, THE REQUESTED APOSTOLIC BLESSING, EXTENDING IT GLADLY TO THE ENTIRE ORDER.
FROM THE VATICAN, 15 JULY 2016
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE HOLY FATHER
(from Vatican Radio)…

Holy See: Trafficking of children is "abominable"

(Vatican Radio) The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, has told the United Nations the trafficking of children is “abominable.”
“While human trafficking always exploits the vulnerable, the trafficking of children and youth exploits those most vulnerable of all, something that not only exposes the evil of trafficking in all its repulsive ugliness but something that likewise makes abundantly clear the urgent call for everyone to rise up to protect children, youth and everyone from those who would enslave and dehumanize them in these ways,” he said.
 
The full text of the intervention is below
 
Elimination The Trafficking Of Children And Youth
By H. E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza
Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
Remarks of Archbishop Bernardito Auza
Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
Eliminating the Trafficking of Children and Youth
United Nations, New York
July 13, 2016
 
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Panelists, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Holy See has long spoken out against the evil of human trafficking, forced labor and all forms of modern slavery. And through the dedicated work of so many Catholic religious institutes, national and diocesan programs, and groups of faithful the Catholic Church has sought to fight to address its various causes, care for those it victimizes, wake people up to the scourge, and work with anyone and everyone to try to eliminate it.
The Second Vatican Council, St. John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI all spoke out passionately and forcefully against the infamy of human trafficking and the widespread hedonistic and commercial culture that encourages this systematic exploitation of human dignity and rights.
Pope Francis has taken the Church’s advocacy and action to another level through his aggressive and incessant denunciation of this social cancer.  He dedicated part of his address to the UN General Assembly to it. He wrote about it in his encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Homeand in his pastoral plan for the New Evangelization entitled The Joy of the Gospel. He devoted the entirety of his 2015 Message for the World Day of Peace to the subject, making it a key priority of international diplomacy for the Holy See. He has spoken about it to newly accredited diplomats, to international religious leaders, to an alliance of international police chiefs and Church leaders, to social scientists and scholars, to mayors from across the globe, to judges and to various conferences throughout the world.
And he hasn’t merely been talking: He’s been taking action, catalyzing the Holy See’s hosting conferences, spearheading the 2014 Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery and willed the creation of the Santa Marta Group, named after his residence in the Vatican, which brings together Catholic leaders and international law enforcement officials to battle this scourge.
His essential message has been that we are dealing with an “open wound on the body of contemporary society,” “a crime against humanity,” and an “atrocious scourge” that is occurring in many of our own neighborhoods.  We cannot remain indifferent before the knowledge that human beings are being bought and sold like objects, even assaulted and killed like abused animals, and that we must together address the economic, environmental, political, anthropological and ethical components of the crisis.
When he was here at the UN last September, he called for “concrete steps and immediate measures for … putting an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon of … human trafficking, … the sexual exploitation of boys and girls, [and] slave labor, including prostitution,” stressing, “We need to ensure that our institutions are truly effective in the struggle against all these scourges.”
Toward this end, he said that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was “an important sign of hope,” insofar as it focused, in three different targets, the attention and commitment of the world to confront this plague.
In Targets 5.2 and 8.7, the international community committed itself to “eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation,” and “take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking.” Those are important steps forward and, together with the Santa Marta Group, the Holy See sponsored on April 7th a very well-attended conference to try to concretize this work.
In today’s conference, we want to focus in a particular way on the third commitment relating to eliminating modern slavery, Target 16.2, which obliges the international community to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children” by 2030.
The trafficking of anyone, no matter what age, is a crime against humanity. But there is something particularly abominable about submitting children to these barbarities. As a Christian and a Catholic bishop, I cannot fail to recall how Jesus reserves his strongest condemnation for those who hurt children, saying that it would be better for such violators to have a millstone tied around their neck and thrown into the depth of the sea than to face God’s judgment for such deeds (Mt 18:6).
Jesus said this because he knows that children are particularly vulnerable and owed a higher level of loving protection. While human trafficking always exploits the vulnerable, the trafficking of children and youth exploits those most vulnerable of all, something that not only exposes the evil of trafficking in all its repulsive ugliness but something that likewise makes abundantly clear the urgent call for everyone to rise up to protect children, youth and everyone from those who would enslave and dehumanize them in these ways.
On behalf of the Holy Father Pope Francis and in my own name, I thank you for coming this afternoon to show solidarity with the children who are victims of trafficking in persons and to express the strongest condemnation possible of this crime.
This conference will seek to make real the faces of the nearly two million children and youth who are presently being trafficked and speak about what’s working, what’s not working, and what needs to be done to free them, help them recover, and prevent other young people from suffering as they have.
We have a powerful program today. We will hear from someone who was trafficked as a child and is now helping to liberate and care for other survivors. We’ll hear from someone who in her powerful advocacy for victims has interviewed hundreds and will be presenting what she’s learned from their compelling stories. We’ll hear from top experts from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Labour Organization about the big picture and what’s being done at an international level. And we’ll hear about two particularly troubling dimensions of this crisis: the trafficking of homeless youth and the use of the internet to enslave and traffic the young.
I would like to conclude my Remarks with the words that Pope Francis wrote for our April 7 Event on Ending Human Trafficking by 2030 and the Role of Global Partnerships in Eradicating Modern Slavery: “In your discussions,” Pope Francis wrote, “I hope also that you will keep before you the dignity of every person, and recognize in all your endeavors a true service to the poorest and most marginalized of society, who too often are forgotten and have no voice.”
Working together with perseverance we can eliminate the trafficking of children and youth and together achieve Target 16.2, to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children” by 2030.
Thank you and welcome to this Conference!
(from Vatican Radio)…

Pope Francis makes telephone call to Nice authorities

Pope Francis has telephoned leaders of the terror-stricken French city of Nice, asking what he could do to help in the wake of last week’s attack which left 84 people dead and scores wounded.
Pope Francis made his call out of the blue on Sunday evening to Paolo Celi, head of “Amitié France-Italie”, a national association for Italians living in France, and to Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice.
Celi told Vatican Radio that the Pope called at about 7pm Sunday evening “apologizing because he doesn’t speak French very well”.
“The first thing he said to me was, ‘What can I do for you?’” Celi said, recalling the conversation before he connected Francis to Estrosi.
Celi said the Pope promised to meet “as soon as possible” with the families of the victims.
But, he specified, the date is yet to be set.
Speaking to Vatican Radio Estrosi said the Holy Father’s gesture has restored in him the energy he needs to go forward in this situation.
Estrosi also said the Pope’s telephone call has been of comfort to thousands of people who are supporting the families of the victims.
“The image of all  the flowers, the letters, the toys that have been put on the Promenade to pay tribute to the victims is an image that no one will be able to forget, but the Pope’s words and the comfort he brings alleviates this terrible memory and gives strength and hope to all” he said. 
(from Vatican Radio)…

Pope Francis: Jesus answer to "restlessness" in youth

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent greetings to an Evangelical Christian gathering which took place on Saturday in Washington, DC.
Thousands of people filled the National Mall for the “Together 16” event.
In a video-message released before the event, Pope Francis said young people have a “restlessness” in their hearts, and Jesus is the answer.
“Young men and women, I know there is something in your heart that moves you. And that makes you restless, because a young person who is not restless is an old person,” Pope Francis said in the message.
“And you have youthfulness, and youthfulness breeds restlessness. What is your restlessness? Do you know what it is or do you not know? Do you want to know what your restlessness is?” – the Pope continued – “I invite you to … to find the One who can give you an answer to your restlessness.”
“And I assure you, you will not be frustrated. God does not leave anyone disillusioned. Jesus is waiting for you,” – Pope Francis concluded – “He is the One who planted the seeds of restlessness in your heart. Give it a try! You don’t have anything to lose! Try it. Then you can tell me. Thank you!”

(from Vatican Radio)…