” “Benedict XVI sent a letter to prof. Mary Ann Glendon, President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences for its Twelfth Plenary Session. In the document the Pope expresses his cordial greeting to all the Members of the Session and sends prayerful wishes “that the research and discussion which mark this annual meeting will not only contribute to the advanced knowledge” but also “assist the Church on her mission to bear witness to an authentic humanism”, guided by “the light of the Gospel”.
The topic of the present Session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences is very acute “Vanishing Youth? Solidarity with Children and Young People in an Age of Turbulence”. In his addressing letter Benedict XVI emphases the urgent need for the deep analysis of contemporary demographic situation. He names two “significant and interconnected” tendencies which became clear in countries all over the world and especially in developed ones. These trends are “on the one hand, an increase in life expectancy, and, on the other, a decrease in birth rates”. The main problem of our society, as it mentioned in the document, is that many nations suffer from a “lack of sufficient number of people to renew their population”. The situation is very complicated and it is caused by many different things. But the most important reasons should be found primarily in spiritual sphere. The Pope considers that “they are linked to a distributing deficit of faith, hope and, indeed, love”. (to be continued)
