Vatican City, Jun 14, 2010 / 02:00 pm (EWTN News) - The Holy Father spoke with participants in a meeting of the Development Bank of the Council of Europe on Saturday, reminding them of the strong Christian roots upon which Europe was built.
The Development Bank of the Council of Europe, which was created in 1956, held its 45th Joint Meeting this year. Pope Benedict expressed his appreciation for the bank, which was created with “an exclusively social vocation, a specialized instrument with which to promote specific policies of solidarity." He also noted that the bank began by concerning itself “with problems affecting refugees, later broadening its remit to the entire field of social cohesion.”
"Economy and finance are not ends unto themselves," declared the Pope. "They are a tool, a means. Their exclusive goal is the human being and the complete realization of his dignity.”
The Holy Father also noted that “Christianity has enabled Europe to understand that it is freedom, responsibility and ethics that impregnate its laws and corporative institutions.” He said that marginalizing Christianity “would deprive our continent of a fundamental resource which nourishes it and contributes to its true identity.”
He also reminded the members of the council that “Christianity is, in fact, the source of 'the spiritual and moral values which are peoples' shared heritage,' values to which the members of the Council of Europe expressed their firm commitment in the Preamble to the Statue of the Council of Europe.”
Recalling the political problems that Europe faced at the end of the 20th century, Pope Benedict wondered if "freedom from totalitarian ideologies has not been used solely for economic progress, at the expense of a more human development." He then encouraged the bank “to correct any imbalances and favor a process based on justice and solidarity” as they made interventions to support Eastern European countries. “Justice and solidarity,” he said, “are essential for the present and future of Europe.”
The Pope then recalled the bank’s objectives, saying that, as an institution, it is “a technical instrument which facilitates solidarity, a solidarity which must be experienced in fraternity.” And “fraternity creates spaces for gratuitous action which, though indispensable, are difficult to envisage when efficiency and profit are the only criteria,” he said.
He encouraged the council members by noting that “Europe has a rich past which has seen the development of a number of economic situations rooted in fraternity.”
“I believe that the Council of Europe Development Bank wishes, in order to experience true solidarity, to respond to this ideal of brotherhood I have just mentioned and to explore areas in which fraternity and the logic of giving can be put into practice,” the Pope continued.
“These ideals” he said, “have Christian roots and they, along with the desire for peace, made it possible for the Council of Europe to come into being.”
At the end of his talk, the governor of the bank presented a medal of the institution to the Holy Father, for which the Pope expressed his gratitude. Benedict XVI then encouraged the members of the bank to continue working “courageously and coherently” for the good of Europe.
(Source: http://www.ewtnnews.com/new.php?id=923)
The Development Bank of the Council of Europe, which was created in 1956, held its 45th Joint Meeting this year. Pope Benedict expressed his appreciation for the bank, which was created with “an exclusively social vocation, a specialized instrument with which to promote specific policies of solidarity." He also noted that the bank began by concerning itself “with problems affecting refugees, later broadening its remit to the entire field of social cohesion.”
"Economy and finance are not ends unto themselves," declared the Pope. "They are a tool, a means. Their exclusive goal is the human being and the complete realization of his dignity.”
The Holy Father also noted that “Christianity has enabled Europe to understand that it is freedom, responsibility and ethics that impregnate its laws and corporative institutions.” He said that marginalizing Christianity “would deprive our continent of a fundamental resource which nourishes it and contributes to its true identity.”
He also reminded the members of the council that “Christianity is, in fact, the source of 'the spiritual and moral values which are peoples' shared heritage,' values to which the members of the Council of Europe expressed their firm commitment in the Preamble to the Statue of the Council of Europe.”
Recalling the political problems that Europe faced at the end of the 20th century, Pope Benedict wondered if "freedom from totalitarian ideologies has not been used solely for economic progress, at the expense of a more human development." He then encouraged the bank “to correct any imbalances and favor a process based on justice and solidarity” as they made interventions to support Eastern European countries. “Justice and solidarity,” he said, “are essential for the present and future of Europe.”
The Pope then recalled the bank’s objectives, saying that, as an institution, it is “a technical instrument which facilitates solidarity, a solidarity which must be experienced in fraternity.” And “fraternity creates spaces for gratuitous action which, though indispensable, are difficult to envisage when efficiency and profit are the only criteria,” he said.
He encouraged the council members by noting that “Europe has a rich past which has seen the development of a number of economic situations rooted in fraternity.”
“I believe that the Council of Europe Development Bank wishes, in order to experience true solidarity, to respond to this ideal of brotherhood I have just mentioned and to explore areas in which fraternity and the logic of giving can be put into practice,” the Pope continued.
“These ideals” he said, “have Christian roots and they, along with the desire for peace, made it possible for the Council of Europe to come into being.”
At the end of his talk, the governor of the bank presented a medal of the institution to the Holy Father, for which the Pope expressed his gratitude. Benedict XVI then encouraged the members of the bank to continue working “courageously and coherently” for the good of Europe.
(Source: http://www.ewtnnews.com/new.php?id=923)