VATICAN CITY, JULY 9, 2001 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II has appealed to rich nations to listen to the cry of poor countries, marginalized by the current process of globalization.
The «richest and technologically most advanced peoples, aware that God the Creator and Father wants to make one family of humanity, must hear the cry of so many poor peoples of the world — they simply ask for what is their sacrosanct right.»
The Pope made his appeal at midday Sunday, before leading the Angelus with pilgrims and faithful gathered in St. Peter´s Square.
The day also marked the end of the meeting of Italian Catholic groups, associations and movements, held in Genoa, in anticipation of the G-8 summit on July 18-21. Participants published a manifesto whose principal objective is the humanization in solidarity of the globalization process.
During the meeting, Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Genoa, called young people to be committed in volunteer work as the antidote to globalization. About 2,000 youths representing more than 60 ecclesial associations and missionary congregations met in the Carlo Felice Theater with the motto: «Sentinels of Tomorrow: We Look the G-8 in the Eye.»
The role of volunteer workers, the cardinal said, is critical to «correct globalization and straighten out the ways. The Christian has a specific task in face of globalization, which is assigned to him by faith: to carry out God´s plan, which calls for commitment in keeping with justice, solidarity and love.»
The Italian organizations met in response to the task the Holy Father spelled out at last August´s World Youth Day in Rome. On that occasion, he said: «You must not be resigned to a world in which others die of hunger, are illiterate, or lack work.»
On Sunday the Holy Father said: «Faith does not allow a Christian to be indifferent to questions of such world relevance. It pushes him to challenge, in a purposeful spirit, those responsible for politics and economics, requesting that the present process of globalization be firmly governed by motives for the common good of citizens of the whole world, based on the absolute demands of justice and solidarity.»
John Paul II then addressed «those responsible for government throughout the world and, in particular, those who will meet in Genoa,» assuring them «that the Church will do her utmost with people of good will to guarantee that the whole of humanity will win in this process.»
«The universal allocation of the goods of the earth is a cornerstone of the social doctrine of the Church,» the Pontiff reminded his listeners.
Then, addressing all Christians, John Paul II asked them for prayers for the G-8, and to prepare for the new challenges of globalization «with a strong moral and spiritual education, with in-depth knowledge of the social doctrine of the Church, and with great love for Jesus Christ, redeemer of every man and of the whole man.»
Officials at Genoa are bracing for violence protests by anti-globalization groups.
The Pope said: «I am confident that, again in this circumstance, Italy will show its typical and exquisite hospitality to all those who will go to Genoa for this occasion, in a climate of concord and serenity.»
