“Redistribution of Wealth” and other ideas from Pope Benedict

I have written at this site and elsewhere about the controversial document released by the Vatican on the world economic crisis. It is interesting in that light to see that Pope Benedict’s theme for his annual World Day of Peace Message is “Educating Young People in Justice and Peace”, that he chose to have the document released by the same Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace that released the earlier document, and that in this message the Pope emphasizes the necessity of a “redistribution of wealth.” From my perspective, these were the key passages from Pope Benedict’s World Day of Peace Message with regards to the economic crisis.

The concerns expressed in recent times by many young people around the world demonstrate that they desire to look to the future with solid hope. At the present time, they are experiencing apprehension about many things: they want to receive an education which prepares them more fully to deal with the real world, they see how difficult it is to form a family and to find stable employment; they wonder if they can really contribute to political, cultural and economic life in order to build a society with a more human and fraternal face. It is important that this unease and its underlying idealism receive due attention at every level of society…

We are living in a world where families, and life itself, are constantly threatened and not infrequently fragmented. Working conditions which are often incompatible with family responsibilities, worries about the future, the frenetic pace of life, the need to move frequently to ensure an adequate livelihood, to say nothing of mere survival – all this makes it hard to ensure that children receive one of the most precious of treasures: the presence of their parents…

Let them [political leaders] be committed to reuniting families separated by the need to earn a living…

In order to be true peacemakers, we must educate ourselves in compassion, solidarity, working together, fraternity, in being active within the community and concerned to raise awareness about national and international issues and the importance of seeking adequate mechanisms for the redistribution of wealth, the promotion of growth, cooperation for development and conflict resolution…

Realize that you yourselves are an example and an inspiration to adults, even more so to the extent that you seek to overcome injustice and corruption and strive to build a better future.