VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope Benedict XVI has called for the universal recognition of a set of values aimed at promoting the common good of humanity in social and economic development projects. The pope also called on politicians and legislators to develop ethically based oversight in finance to prevent the "irresponsible speculation," which he said was the root of the current economic crisis.
Pope Benedict made his remarks May 22 to members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, which seeks to implement the Catholic social teaching presented in Pope John Paul II’s 1991 encyclical, "Centesimus Annus."
The pope told participants that "the common good is the end that gives meaning to progress and development," otherwise "consumerism, waste, poverty and imbalances prevail."
The difficulty many people are suffering in today’s economic climate "is due to a lack of trust and adequate inspiration for creative and dynamic solidarity aimed at the common good," he said.
The pope said ethical values to govern the financial markets should be spelled out in an orderly way and respected and promoted by national and international institutions.
"In view of the development of a whole family of peoples," he said, "the establishment of a real classification of values is fundamental." Only with proper ordering of priorities for the common good is it possible to know what type of development should be promoted, he said.
The priorities must include solidarity and assistance, and should encourage interdependence between the state, society and the market, the pope said. Moral and spiritual values top the list, he said.
Wealthier countries have a responsibility to assist countries with weaker institutions and socioeconomic situations not only with material aid, but also with support for their efforts to reach the democratic objectives of rule of law, equitable public security and respect for human rights, he said.
In a world marked by diversity between peoples and religions, a well-integrated development policy can move forward only with the contribution of everyone, he said.
Religions are important players because they can teach "brotherhood and peace and how to give space to transcendence in societies marked by secularization," the pope said. Both the exclusion of religion from civil society and religious fundamentalism are detrimental to a fruitful meeting of peoples and to progress, Pope Benedict said.
