Pope Benedict gave a short address on Friday to a gathering of participants in a meeting of the "Centrist Democratic International."

The following paragraphs may offer a preview to his anticipated Address to the United Nations in April.

Another cause highly esteemed by all of you is the defence of religious liberty, which is a fundamental, irrepressible, inalienable and inviolable right rooted in the dignity of every human being and acknowledged by various international documents, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The exercise of this freedom also includes the right to change religion, which should be guaranteed not only legally, but also in daily practice.  In fact, religious liberty corresponds to the human persons innate openness to God, who is the fullness of truth and the supreme good.  An appreciation for religious freedom is a fundamental expression of respect for human reason and its capacity to know the truth.  Openness to transcendence is an indispensable guarantee of human dignity since within every human heart there are needs and desires which find their fulfilment in God alone.  For this reason, God can never be excluded from the horizon of man and world history!  That is why all authentically religious traditions must be allowed to manifest their own identity publicly, free from any pressure to hide or disguise it.

Moreover, due respect for religion helps to counter the charge that society has forgotten God: an accusation shamelessly exploited by some terrorist networks in an attempt to justify their threats against global security.  Terrorism is a serious problem whose perpetrators often claim to act in Gods name and harbour an inexcusable contempt for human life.  Society naturally has a right to defend itself, but this right must be exercised with complete respect for moral and legal norms, including the choice of ends and means.  In democratic systems, the use of force in a manner contrary to the principles of a constitutional State can never be justified.  Indeed, how can we claim to protect democracy if we threaten its very foundations?  Consequently, it is necessary both to keep careful watch over the security of civil society and its citizens while at the same time safeguarding the inalienable rights of all.  Terrorism needs to be fought with determination and effectiveness, mindful that if the mystery of evil is widespread today, the solidarity of mankind in goodness is an even more pervasive mystery.

The rest is here.

Robert P. Imbelli, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, is a longtime Commonweal contributor.

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