Vatican City, Oct 27, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Inaugurating the first world congress of ecclesiastical organizations committed to promoting justice and peace yesterday, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, noted the injustices and humiliations suffered by people around the world and said that the faithful have the responsibility to continue announcing the Gospel of justice and peace.
The conference, entitled "Announcing the Gospel of Justice and Peace," is being attended by 300 representatives of various Church organizations from 92 countries, and delegates from 15 regional episcopal conferences and other international bodies.
"Throughout its history," said Cardinal Sodano, "the Church, as an institution and through its faithful, has always been committed to promoting justice and peace. We have the responsibility to follow this path, announcing the Gospel of Christ which is the Gospel of justice and peace."
Since Pope Paul VI’s statement in his 1967 Encyclical "Populorum progressio," that "the world was ill," said the cardinal, “the illness has gotten worse and the injustices and violence have multiplied.”