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Pope Benedict XVI and Human Rights

One of the high points of Pope Benedict XVI’s recent apostolic journey to the United States was his April 18th address to the United Nations General Assembly. The occasion was this year’s 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a proclamation adopted by the U.N. in Paris in December, 1948. The impetus for the UDHR was the atrocities committed by the Nazi’s during World War II. In response, a universal declaration was called for by the United Nations. It was envisioned as a proclamation of rights and freedoms for all people in every nation that outlined objectives to be adhered to by governments. It was to be a statement that would have the power of international law and could be used as an instrument for applying worldwide diplomatic and moral leverage on governments that violated any of the rights called for in the document.

The Holy Father was introduced by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea, who spoke of the common goals of the Catholic Church and the U.N.: “In so many ways, our mission unites us with yours. You have spoken of the terrible challenge of poverty, affecting so much of the world’s population, and how we cannot afford indifference and self-centered isolation.” Mr. Ban also highlighted the Pope’s commitment to fight the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the need to protect the weak, and the requirement to care for the environment and its resources.

Pope Benedict XVI began his address by praising the work of the U.N., mentioning specifically its founding principles, “the desire for peace, the quest for justice, respect for the dignity of the person, humanitarian cooperation and assistance” that “express the just aspirations of the human spirit, and constitute the ideals which should underpin international relations.” However, the Pope warned that the U.N.’s ability to respond to the demands of the human family is at risk because of the “obvious paradox of a multilateral consensus that continues to be in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a few, whereas the world’s problems call for interventions in the form of collective action by the international community.” The Pope insisted that the ability to respond to problems should be a cooperative endeavor, not left to the decisions of a “small number” of presumably powerful nations.

In speaking of the Universal Declaration, the Pope said that the “rights recognized and expounded in the Declaration apply to everyone by virtue of the origin of the person, who remains the high-point of God’s creative design for the world and for history. They are based on the natural law inscribed on human hearts and present in different cultures and civilizations.” Benedict asserted that the “promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups, and for increasing security. Indeed, the victims of hardship and despair, whose human dignity is violated with impunity, become easy prey to the call to violence, and they can then become violators of peace.”

It is therefore even more important today, the Pope insisted, that the common standard for achievement called for in the UDHR’s Preamble remain the fundamental goal. He stated that the standards not be applied “piecemeal, according to trends or selective choices that merely run the risk of contradicting the unity of the human person and thus the indivisibility of human right.”

The pontiff also spoke of the importance of the right to religious freedom: It is “inconceivable…that believers should have to suppress a part of themselves—their faith—in order to be active citizens. It should never be necessary to deny God in order to enjoy one’s rights.”

Before addressing the General Assembly, the Pope signed the visitor’s book. He wrote in Latin, quoting the prophet Isaiah. His words sum up the spirit of the UDHR and the heart of God’s loving plan for the salvation of all people: “Justice will bring about peace” (Isaiah 32:17).

What Difference Does Faith Make to Me?
1. According to the Guinness Book of Records the UHDR has the distinction of being the “Most Translated Document” in the world. Use this link to download the Preamble and 30 Articles of the United Declaration: http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm. Read the entire document and then identify three rights that Pope Benedict XVI referenced in his speech at the United Nations.
2. How do the words of Genesis 1:27 promote respect for life?
3. Think of one current example of human rights being violated or ignored somewhere in the world. What action do you feel the United Nations should take to resolve this situation?
4. In his address, the Pope spoke about “discernment, that is, the capacity to distinguish good from evil being even more essential” in today’s world for evaluating the “conduct of persons, communities and peoples.” How can faith assist and inform the discernment process regarding human rights?
5. What specific efforts do you make to show respect for the dignity of people and the protection for human rights?
6. Name one new thing you are willing to do to make the protection of human rights a priority in your life.
7. In speaking of the necessity of the international community acting in the face of serious human rights violations, Pope Benedict XVI said that “it is indifference or failure to intervene” that could worsen the situation. How is apathy a threat to the protection of human rights?
8. Read Matthew 25: 31-40. How do Jesus’ words reflect Pope Benedict XVI’s message to the U.N.?
9. Consider the United States Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. How do these documents call our country and our citizens to protect life and eliminate inequities in society?
10. Why do you think, as the Pope said, that victims of hardship and despair can become violators of peace?
11. How is the Pope’s call for religious freedom even more important in our post-9/11 world?
12. In his concluding remarks the Pope said that his presence at the U.N. “demonstrates the willingness of the Catholic Church to offer her proper contribution to building international relations in a way that allows every person and every people to feel they can make a difference.” In what ways does the Church promote human rights? What does your parish do to make a difference in the lives of the needy and vulnerable people in your community?

Prayer
After speaking to the General Assembly, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the U.N. staff. He thanked them all—translators, custodians, security personnel, secretaries, the people behind the scenes—for making it possible for the U.N. to do its work. He ended his speech with the following prayer. It reminds us we all that we have a role to play in the protection of human rights:

“May Almighty God bless you always and comfort you with his grace and peace, so that through the care you offer to the entire human family, you can continue to be of service to Him.”

Connection to Faith First Legacy Edition
Grade 1, chapters 2, 15, 17
Grade 2, chapters 3, 18, 19, 20
Grade 3, chapters 2, 20, 21
Grade 4, chapters 4, 22, 23
Grade 5, chapters 5, 19, 23
Grade 6, chapters 4, 19, 22
Junior High, Mystery of God, chapter 4
Junior High, Morality, chapters 1, 5, 9, 10
Junior High, Church and Sacraments, chapters 8, 10
Junior High, Jesus in the New Testament, chapter 10
Junior High, Church History, chapters 8, 9