BENEDICT XVI: MESSAGE FOR THE PEACE DAY 2008 (4)

” “"The essential condition for peace in single families – stated Benedict XVI – is that they rely on the solid foundations of common ethical and spiritual values". But "the family enjoys a real peace experience if nobody misses the necessary". Therefore, for family peace, "openness to a transcendent value heritage" is necessary, as well as "the wise management of both material goods and relationships between the people". The human family – went on the Pope – also "needs an economy really capable of meeting the needs of common good on planetary level, as well as the foundations represented by common values". It is actually "necessary to work on the wise use of resources, and on the equal distribution of wealth. In particular, the aids given to poor countries must meet the criteria based on sound economic principles, avoiding the wastes which are linked with the maintenance of costly bureaucratic apparatuses, above all". Moreover, a family "may live in peace if all its members follow a common rule", with the aim of "preventing individualism". This criterion "is also good for the largest communities". To get peace, therefore, "a law in common is necessary, which may foster freedom to be real freedom instead of blind will, and which may protect the weaker from the abuse of the stronger". (To be continued)” “