Globalization's effects to be examined by pontifical council

Vatican City, Nov 16, 2007 / 10:27 am

The impact of globalization has led to changes in society that would have been unthinkable 40 years ago. Given this new societal atmosphere, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace will be holding a meeting November 20 and 21to talk about Pope Paul VI’s social encyclical “Populorum progressio”.

"Problems and prospects of human development today, 40 years after 'Populorum progressio'," will also be examined at the second world congress of ecclesial organizations, to be held in Rome from November 22 to 24.

According to a communique from the pontifical council, its members and consultors "will reflect on the current validity of the historical papal document, with particular emphasis on the moral aspects of development, on new forms of poverty and globalization, on conflicts and disarmament, and on safeguarding and protecting human rights."

Among those due to participate in the plenary assembly alongside Cardinal Renato Martino and Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, are Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga S.D.B., archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, president of Pax Christi.

More than 300 delegates from more than 80 countries on five continents are expected to participate in the second world congress of ecclesial organizations active in the sector of justice and peace. The specific theme of their meeting will be: "The 40th anniversary of 'Populorum progressio:' the development of all of man, the development of all mankind."

Participants, the communique reads, "will study the new situations that have come into being in the world since the publication of the historic document, and the current challenges of development in the light of the Church's social doctrine, in particular the questions of human ecology, pluralism and inter-cultural dialogue, and new forms of government in the context of globalization.”