Vatican City, Jan 7, 2008 / 09:33 am
Continual attacks against human life that are being launched around the world must be addressed by today’s intercultural and inter-religious discussion, Pope Benedict told the diplomatic corps this morning.
Expressing the unflagging efforts of the Church to support human rights, the Holy Father said, "In every continent the Catholic Church strives to ensure that human rights are not only proclaimed but put into practice.”
“The Church willingly undertakes this service to the true dignity of human persons, created in the image of God. And on the basis of these considerations, I cannot but deplore once again the continual attacks perpetrated on every continent against human life", said the Pope.
While he rejoiced that “on 18 December the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution calling upon States to institute a moratorium on the use of the death penalty”, the Pontiff said that he sees multiple threats against human life.
"I regret, once again, the disturbing threats to the integrity of the family, founded on the marriage of a man and a woman. Political leaders, of whatever kind, should defend this fundamental institution, the basic cell of society", he said.