To the UN Conference in Monterrey, Mexico
On Thursday, 21 March, Archbishop Renato R. Martino, Permanent
Observer of the Holy See at the United Nations in New York and Head of
the Holy See Delegation to the International Conference on Financing for
Development in Monterrey, Mexico, spoke on: "The dignity of the
human person, a key value for development". The Permanent Observer
explained his theme. "Development is first and foremost a question
of people. Human beings are at the centre of our concerns for
sustainable development. Through development, the people of the world
are offered opportunities for advancement. These opportunities are often
the product of human ingenuity and through development the human spirit
of ingenuity can be released for the benefit of a// humankind". He
also highlighted the urgency for governments to act. "The world of
today is overshadowed by a fragile peace and marked by broken promises.
Too many people live lives without hope, with little opportunity toward
realizing a better future for themselves, their children and future
generations". It is the search for a healing of this lack of hope,
this darkness of despair, that must fuel the continuing work of the
world community. The conference was held in Monterrey from 18 to 22
March. Here is the Archbishop's address.
Mr President,
This is truly a momentous occasion. World leaders and experts in the
field of financing and development have come together to discuss those
issues that will help lead to finding realistic and workable ways to
address the elimination of poverty and the advancement of the human
family.
The very fact that this meeting is being held is, in a way, an
achievement in itself. The journey to Monterrey has its beginnings in
1997 with the adoption of the Agenda for Development and has
brought us to reflect and design ways to finance development. Also,
during each of the recent United Nations Conferences, Summits and
Special Sessions, discussions in the areas of economic and financial
development have been held. At the Millennium Summit, Government leaders
recommitted themselves to meeting a series of development goals, among
them, the eradication of poverty and providing access to basic social
services including health, education and clean water.
In some countries debt levels force families to migrate
Mr President,
Too many families in today's world are forced to be concerned with
survival and do not have the luxury of participating as actors in their
development; too many people are forced to migrate, too many people
continue to be burdened by absolute poverty and live in countries where
debt burdens make it impossible to gain access to basic social services
and social safeguards. In this perspective, financing for development
must touch all aspects of life, the individual, the family, the
community and the world.
The events of the past few months, played-out before our eyes have
forced all of us to recognize the oneness of humanity. These events
which continue to have an effect on our lives and touch the lives of so
many, bind us together on our common path toward enhancing the
well-being of all people. Everyone hopes to witness a renewed collective
desire to help those living in poverty transcending ideological,
political and geographic boundaries.
Development has to serve people
Development is first and foremost a question of people. Human beings
are at the centre of our concerns for sustainable development. Through
development, the people of the world are offered opportunities for
advancement. These opportunities are often the product of human
ingenuity and through development the human spirit of ingenuity can be
released for the benefit of all humankind.
Historically, financing has had its place within the discussion of
development. However, in many cases, the task is too great for one
community or nation to accomplish it on its own. The underlying
challenge is the adoption of an attitude of solidarity between and among
all people.
Development has to entail financial decisions for the benefit of the
person
Financial decisions and their sound planning clearly contribute
efficaciously to development and, in that sense, to the common global
good. Good intentions and good will, while essential components, will
not be sufficient to bring about true and sustainable development.
Financing for development is a mix of good intentions, resources and
varied approaches with the potential to contribute to the development
and wellbeing of each and every person.
The Holy See has constantly shown its concern for the social and
economic development of the world's people and the means to achieve that
development.
Leo XIII: not just temporal development but spiritual and moral
development
More than one hundred years ago, Pope Leo XIII issued the first great
social Encyclical Letter, Rerum novarum. In it, the Pope stated
the ideas that would become an inspiration for social policy for years
to come:
"Every programme geared to increased production must have no
other end in view than to serve the human person, namely: to lessen
inequalities, to remove discrimination, to free men from the
bonds of servitude and to enable them to improve their condition in the
temporal order, achieve moral development, and perfect their spiritual
endowments. When we speak of development, care must be given both to
social progress and economic growth" (Pope Leo XIII, Rerum
novarum "On the Condition of the Working Classes", n. 34,
15 May 1891).
Paul VI
In 1967, in his Encyclical Letter, Populorum Progressio, Pope
Paul VI reinforced the position of the Church regarding the connection
between peace and social and economic development: "Therefore,
when we combat misery, and struggle against injustice we are providing
not only for man's prosperity but also for his spiritual and moral
development and are therefore promoting the welfare of the whole human
race" (Pope Paul VI, Populorum progressio "Promoting
the Development of Peoples", n. 76, 26 March 1967).
For this reason, the Holy See continues to involve itself in the
ongoing process of the development of peoples.
John Paul II
Twenty years after Populorum progressio, Pope John Paul II addressed
the work that had been accomplished in the recent past and looked
forward to the work that would ensue, including the work of this
Conference:
"It should be noted that in spite of the praiseworthy efforts
made in the last two decades by the more developed or developing nations
and the international organizations to find a way out of the situation,
or at least to remedy some of its symptoms, the conditions have become
notably worse. Responsibility for this deterioration is due to various
causes. Notable among them are undoubtedly grave instances of omissions
on the part of the developing nations themselves, and especially on the
part of those holding economic and political power. Nor can we pretend
not to see the responsibility of the developed nations, which have not
always, at least in due measure, felt the duty to help countries
separated from the affluent world to which they themselves belong.
Moreover, one must denounce the existence of economic, financial and
social mechanisms which, although they are manipulated by people, often
function almost automatically, thus accentuating the situation of wealth
for some and poverty for the rest. These mechanisms, which are
manoeuvred directly or indirectly by the more developed countries, by
their very functioning favour the interests of the people manipulating
them and in the end they suffocate or condition the economies of the
less developed countries. Later on these mechanisms will have to be
subjected to a careful analysis under the ethical-moral aspect" (Pope
John Paul II, Sollicitudo rei socialis, "On Social
Concern", n. 16, 30 December 1987).
Moral ramifications of economic activity in the light of a
comprehensive vision of the person
Mr President,
The Holy See strongly believes that any effort in favour of
development must analyze the moral ramifications of economic activity
and its financing in light of a comprehensive vision of the human
person. This is an absolutely essential interplay, a moral imperative,
which has all too often been neglected in the dialogue over the ethics
of economic life. A true concern for the development of peoples cannot
afford to be reductionistic, but must respect the genuine claims of both
economics and morality. Human dignity must be the central value for the
financing of development. Such an authentic concern must prize the close
relationship between the centrality of the human person and economic
activity, stressing the subjective character of human work and its place
in human creativity. As Pope John Paul II said, "The moral
causes of prosperity ... reside in a constellation of virtues:
industriousness, competence, order, honesty, initiative, frugality,
thrift, spirit of service, keeping one's word, daring—in
short, love for work well done. No system or social structure can
resolve, as if by magic, the problem of poverty outside these
virtues" (Pope John Paul II, "Address to
the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean",
Origins 16, 16 April 1987, 775).
Universal purpose of the goods of the earth opposes globalized
monopolies
One of the fundamental ethical principles of the social teaching of
the Holy See is the principle of the universal purpose of created goods.
A clear expression of this principle was proposed by Pope Paul VI:
"God destined the earth with all that it contains for the use of
a// men and nations, in such a way that created things in fair share
should accrue to all men under the leadership of justice with charity as
a companion. All other rights, whatever they are, including property
rights and the right of free trade must be subordinated to this norm;
they must not hinder it, but must rather expedite its application. It
must be considered a serious and urgent social obligation to refer these
rights to their original purpose" (Pope Paul VI, Popolorum
Progressio "Promoting the Development of Peoples",
nn. 22, 26, March 1967).
The world of today is overshadowed by a fragile peace and marked by
broken promises. Too many people live lives without hope, with
little opportunity toward realizing a better future for themselves,
their children and future generations.
It is the search for a healing of this lack of hope, this darkness of
despair, that must fuel the continuing work of the world community, and
which helped Governments to declare at the World Summit for Social
Development, "We gather here to commit ourselves, our
Governments and our nations to enhancing social development throughout
the world so that a// men and women, especially those living in poverty,
may exercise the rights, utilize the resources and share the
responsibilities that enable them to lead satisfying lives and to
contribute to the well-being of their families, their communities and
humankind" (The Copenhagen Declaration, [9], World Summit for
Social Development, Copenhagen, Denmark, 6-12 March 1995).
Monterrey Consensus document has to call for progress in eradicating
poverty
Governments cannot afford to allow the Monterrey Consensus document,
nor the results of the discussions and deliberations held during these
days to be forgotten or set aside. We cannot allow the work of this
Conference to end here, but rather we must see this as the renewal of
commitment that it truly is. And finally, the Family of Nations cannot
allow one more day to pass wherein a real attempt to meet goals and make
measurable progress toward the eradication of poverty are not pursued
with all of the energy and resolve that they can muster.
Good progress has been made in the discussions that have led to the
successful outcome of this Conference. Let those who watch what we have
done and look forward to the next steps in implementation and
cooperation, realize that there is hope, that there is commitment, and
that there is an honest movement toward the elimination of poverty, the
development of all peoples and societies, and a good foundation for
building a better future for all humanity.
Thank you, Mr President.
|
