ZENIT, Daily dispatch
The World Seen From Rome
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VATICAN DOSSIER
* Meeting Christ Changes Everything, Says Pope
* John Paul II Remembered on Name Day
* Benedict XVI Asks for End to Turkey-Kurd Conflict
* Pope: New Strategies Needed for Families
* Aide Reflects on Miracle of Christian Martyrs
ANALYSIS
* Why Dads Matter
WORLD FEATURES
* 5 Million Say No to Death Penalty
* Vatican Calls Sport a Means to Unite Humanity
ANGELUS
* On Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
DOCUMENTS
* Holy See's Address on the Values of Sport
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VATICAN DOSSIER
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Meeting Christ Changes Everything, Says Pope
Reflects on Conversion of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Meeting Christ is a life-changing moment, said Benedict XVI in a Gospel reflection on the conversion of Zacchaeus the tax collector after his encounter with Christ.
The Pope said this today before reciting the Angelus with a crowd of some 50,000 who had gathered in St. Peter's Square. The Holy Father recalled that Zacchaeus was considered a public sinner and was despised by all, but he had a great desire to see Jesus at Jericho.
"The Lord turned to him, calling him by name: 'Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house,'" recounted the Pontiff. "What a message in this simple phrase!"
"Jesus calls by name a man who is despised by all," said Benedict XVI.
In telling Zacchaeus that he wishes to stay at his house "today," the Lord is saying that Zacchaeus' "moment of salvation is now," added the Pope. He explained that "the Father, who is rich in mercy, wants Jesus to go and 'seek out and save what was lost.'"
"The grace of that unforeseeable moment was such that it completely changed Zacchaeus' life," the Holy Father pointed out.
He said that the passage of the Gospel is one that shows "that love, flowing from the heart of God and working through the heart of man, is the force that renews the world."
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John Paul II Remembered on Name Day
Benedict XVI Reflects on Life of St. Charles Borromeo
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI remembered St. Charles Borromeo and Pope John Paul II as two great men of the Church, "distant in time, close in the Spirit."
The Pope said this today in his greeting in Polish, after having prayed the Angelus together with some 50,000 people who gathered in St. Peter's Square. "Let us thank God for the life and work" of both, the Holy Father added.
The Pontiff also recalled that today is the name day of John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyla (1920-2005). The Church celebrates the commemoration of St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) on Nov. 4.
In his address before reciting the Angelus, Benedict XVI described St. Charles, archbishop of Milan, as "the model of the pastor known for his exemplarity in charity, doctrine, apostolic zeal and above all prayer." The Pope recalled the bishop's words, "We conquer souls on our knees."
The Holy Father continued, "Consecrated bishop when he was only 25, he put into practice the decree of Trent that demanded that bishops reside in their diocese, and he dedicated himself entirely to the Ambrosian church: three times he visited the entire diocese; he called six provincial synods and eleven diocesan synods."
The Pope observed that as a bishop Charles Borromeo "founded seminaries to form a new generation of priests; he built hospitals and gave his family wealth to the service of the poor; he defended the Church's rights against the powerful; he renewed religious life and instituted a new congregation of priests, the Oblates."
"His motto was a single word: 'Humilitas,'" said Benedict XVI. "Humility moved him, as it did the Lord Jesus, to renounce himself to become the servant of all."
After having recalled this, the Pope recommended to St. Charles' intercession "all the bishops of the world, for whom we invoke as always the celestial protection of Mary Most Holy, Mother of the Church."
The Pontiff recalled his "venerable predecessor John Paul II, who with devotion bore St. Charles' name."
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Benedict XVI Asks for End to Turkey-Kurd Conflict
Calls for Consideration of Refugee Population
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI expressed concern for the tense situation between Turkey and Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq, and asked that every effort be made for a peaceful resolution.
The Pope made this appeal today after praying the Angelus with more than 50,000 people who had gathered in St. Peter's Square.The Holy Father remembered in particular the large number of refugees living in the area: "I cannot forget that in that region numerous people, fleeing from the uncertainty and terrorism that have made life in Iraq difficult in these years, have found refuge."
For the good of these people, the Holy Father continued, "among whom are many Christians, I strongly desire that all the parties involved work for peaceful solutions."
After the above-mentioned plea, the Pope also asked: "I desire, furthermore, that the relations among the migrant populations and the local populations develop in the spirit of that high moral civility that is the fruit of spiritual and cultural values of every people and country.
"May those who are in favor of security and hospitality know how to use the appropriate means to guarantee the rights and duties that are the foundation of all true common life and encounters among peoples."
The current crisis is linked to the presence of Kurdish rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, which is considered to be a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, the European Union and Iraq.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met this weekend with the prime minister of Iraq, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, and the premier of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an attempt to broker a peaceful resolution of tensions.
Rice promised "effective" action against the PKK, but also reproved Turkey for large-scale military operations that could further destabilize the entire region.
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Pope: New Strategies Needed for Families
Says They Face Internal and External Threats
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI called for the development of innovative strategies to meet the needs of the modern family as he encouraged the work and initiatives of the Italian-based New Families movement.
The Pope also called the family a "sacred and sanctifying place" when he met Saturday with some 400 participants in the International New Families Meeting, which marked the 40th anniversary of the organization's foundation.
The New Families movement, sponsored by the Catholic lay Focolare movement, is a network of 800,000 families living in 182 countries.In his address, Benedict XVI began with a salute to the founder of the Focolare movement, Chiara Lubich, who the Pope said "continues to guide the great family of the Focolare with wisdom and firm adherence to the Church."
The Holy Father praised the commitment to "silent and profound evangelization" that New Families promotes, and the organization's four guiding principles: spirituality, education, sociability and solidarity.
He said that New Families teaches that "it is only family unity, gift of God-Love, that can render the family a true nest of love, a welcoming home of life and school of the Christian virtues and values for children."
The Pope asked New Families to identify strategies for "meeting the growing needs of the contemporary family and the multiple challenges that it faces, so that its unique mission in the Church and society not falter."
"In the face of so many social and economic, cultural and religious challenges that contemporary society must deal with in every part of the world," Benedict XVI said, "your work, truly providential, constitutes a sign of hope and encouragement for Christian families to be the privileged 'space' where there is proclaimed in daily life the beauty of putting Jesus Christ at the center and of faithfully following the Gospel."
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Aide Reflects on Miracle of Christian Martyrs
Says They Ask for Pardon, Not Revenge
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The miracle of Christian martyrdom is that it doesn't give way to revenge and hostility, but rather calls for pardon and peace, said the Vatican spokesman.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, said this in the latest edition of the weekly Vatican Television program "Octave Dies." He commented on the Oct. 28 beatification ceremony of 498 Spanish martyrs, victims of the religious persecution of the 1930s.
He said the ceremony "was deeply impressive, but it is even more so when one thinks about the thousands of other witnesses to Christ who traveled the same road in those same years in the same country."
"In a time when a horrible and uncontrolled violence is unleashed, Christians of every condition can be defenseless victims simply on account of their faith," said the Vatican spokesman.
"But so much blood does not arouse vendettas and hostility," Father Lombardi explained. "This is the true miracle of the Christian martyr: He calls instead for pardon, mercy, reconciliation, peace, paradoxically also for joy.
"Like Jesus, who defeats hatred with love, the price of this strange victory is precisely his death."
"Some have feared that this event is an occasion for historical recrimination and division," he added. "The Spanish Church knew how to make it an occasion for internal unity and unity with the society in which it lives."
"And Rome," said Father Lombardi, "universal home of believers in Christ, was the right place for this event of prayer and celebration: precisely in the place where Peter himself was martyred."
The 20th century, he said, "which had more martyrs than the rest of history, continues to bear its fruits of inspiration for the renewal of Christian witness."
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ANALYSIS
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Why Dads Matter
Reports Show Children Need Presence of Both Parents
By Father John Flynn, LC
ROME, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Children need more than ever the presence and guidance of fathers in family life. According to a recent collection of essays, a significant body of scientific research clearly documents the vital role a father plays in the formative years of a child's life.
The book is titled "Why Fathers Count: The Importance of Fathers and Their Involvement with Children" (Men's Studies Press). Sean E. Brotherson and Joseph M. White, the editors and authors of the first chapter, set the tone for the book with an overview of arguments regarding the importance of fathers for children. The presence of a father has a positive impact in many ways, they note, as children with fathers have fewer behavioral problems, obtain better academic results, and are economically better off.
Brotherson and White also clarified that they do not in any way wish to minimize the contribution made by mothers to family life. In fact, they stated, both parents count: fathers and mothers. Nevertheless, as statistics amply confirm, there has been a marked increase in fatherless families in recent decades, hence the book's concentration on fathers.
Rob Palkovitz, a professor at the University of Delaware, dedicated a chapter on the theme of men's transition to fatherhood. Men can become fathers in a biological sense, he noted, and yet not always make the psychological and behavioral adjustments needed to embrace the role of fathering.
Being a father, Palkovitz explained, carries a different type of responsibility to that of a husband and requires an additional commitment. This change will affect a man's choices, behavior and priorities in everyday life. This takes time, and fathering is a role that men gradually grow into.
The transition to fatherhood, he continued, is a monumental turning point in a man's life. If men are willing to undertake this relationship with their children, it is among the greatest changes in a man's life and development as a person, Palkovitz concluded.
The marriage factor
The relationship between spouses and its impact on fathers was examined in a chapter authored by University of Arkansas professor, H. Wallace Goddard. When couples have a strong relationship they can use their differences to complement each other, and draw on each other's strengths, and there is a much greater likelihood that both mother and father will be good parents, he argued.
Goddard also noted that in many ways the contemporary dating culture does little to prepare future couples for the commitment needed to nurture and protect a marriage. A culture that overemphasizes romance and quick fixes, he pointed out, does little to prepare couples for the inevitable difficult periods that every marriage goes through.
Brotherson, from North Dakota State University, examined what he termed "connectedness" in the relationship between fathers and children. This connecting involves the building of a bond over time that is more than just the love a parent has for a child, but also the degree to which a child perceives this love and acceptance.
The connectedness, Brotherson added, is developed in the details of loving another person and the trust and closeness that develops in that relationship.
Citing various research sources on family life, Brotherson went on to explain that the more connection a child feels with his parents the more likely he or she is to trust others and enjoy stable relationships with peers and adults outside home. A close-knit family relationship is also more effective in protecting children from problems such as depression, suicide, precocious sexual activity or drug use.
The final part of the chapter offered suggestions for fathers on how they can connect with their children. Brotherson recommended playing together with children, and also helping them in their education. Being available to comfort them in times of need, expressing affection, and a shared spiritual activity such as praying together were among other points mentioned.
Paternal love
Academics Shawn Christianson and Jeffrey Stueve wrote about the importance of a father's love for their children. The majority of social science research, they maintained, does not recognize sufficiently the bond parents form with children in their loving and caring of them. Not only is there little mention of love in family theory, but many contemporary theories focus on self-interest.
A father's love for his children is often expressed in the sacrifices they make, whether in times of crisis or just in the everyday choices of family life. Obviously some fathers fail to take responsibility for their children, Christianson and Stueve acknowledged. At the same time, however, many do cooperate with their wives in raising their child.
Most research in this area has been done on fathers of younger children. It has shown that fathers are indeed capable of being sensitive to a child's needs and can show affection.
Defining fatherly love is not easy, Christianson and Stueve noted. One way to do so is to demonstrate the way in which a father is present in a child's life, helping out in physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. The sharing of time, activities, conversation and self, means a constant support that children perceive as being enduring in their lives.
Vicky Phares and David Clay, respectively a professor and doctoral student at the University of South Florida, delved into the influence of fathers on the psychological well-being of children. They point to three main styles of parenting: authoritative, authoritarian and permissive.
Guidance
Phares and Clay explained that fathers whose parenting style is authoritative -- combining control with warmth and regard -- are more likely to have children who feel secure and demonstrate good mental health.
Another influential factor is the emotional availability of fathers. Being engaged in a child's life, and responsive to emotional needs, is important in the healthy development of children and adolescents.
The role of fathers in the moral development of their children was pondered by Terrance Olson and James Marshall, respectively from Brigham Young University and the University of Kansas.
Having a moral influence is manifested in varying ways, they pointed out. It can be something as simple as keeping promises made to a child, or putting certain boundaries by making clear which behaviors are acceptable and which are not.
In this sense, while it is true that the quantity of time fathers devote to their children is important, it is also vital how a father reacts to a child's needs and behavior. The personal example a father gives, and how they teach their children to treat others in the community, are additional opportunities for teaching. In this way fathers have many possibilities to transmit attitudes and values to their children and teach them the implications of moral responsibility.
Benedict XVI continued his frequent commentaries on the importance of families in his Sept. 13 address to the new Slovak ambassador to the Holy See, Jozef Dravecky.
"The family is the nucleus in which a person first learns human love and cultivates the virtues of responsibility, generosity and fraternal concern," the Pontiff commented.
"Strong families are built on the foundation of strong marriages. Strong societies are built on the foundation of strong families," the Pope continued. He then urged that governments acknowledge, respect and support marriage, in which a man and a woman join together in a lifelong commitment. An undertaking indeed vital for the flourishing of future generations.
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WORLD FEATURES
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5 Million Say No to Death Penalty
Sant'Egidio Community Presents Petition to U.N.
NEW YORK, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- A global moratorium on the death penalty isn't just an idea of a few countries, but the wish of a large part of the world society, according to a representative of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
Mario Marazziti said this Friday as he led a delegation to the United Nations to deliver a petition signed by 5 million people from 154 countries calling for an end to capital punishment.
The delegation, led by the Community of Sant'Egidio and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, delivered the petition to Srgjan Kerim, president of the U.N. General Assembly. Also leading the delegation was Sister Helen Prejean, the author of "Dead Man Walking," which was the basis for the 1995 film of the same name.
On Thursday the human rights committee of the General Assembly was presented with a draft resolution on the issue by the countries of Angola, Albania, Brazil, Croatia, Gabon, Mexico, the Philippines, Portugal (representing the European Union), and New Zealand. The text was presented as a cross-regional initiative with more than 70 nations signing on as co-sponsors.
Stopping short of calling for an all-out abolition of the practice, the resolution calls for a "moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty," reported Reuters.
Will of the world
Asked about the experience of having collected so many signatures, Marazziti told ZENIT that it was the fruit of nine years of work. He added, "To have and collect five million signatures you need to talk to about 50 million people in the world, in 154 countries."
Marazziti said that he believes that the death penalty lowers the state and civil society to the level of a killer, and that while some defend a culture of life, they wind up legitimating a culture of death.
"For the first time a real moral interfaith and also lay/secular front was created" Marazziti noted in reference to the petition. "The thing is that it is a demonstration of the strong will of the world and not just an idea of human rights that is rooted in the Italian or European tradition."
Respect for life
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, told ZENIT that capital punishment "undermines human dignity."
He added, "Our delegation has been insisting on the conviction that the right to life is the proper context in which to deal with the issue because if we respect life in all its stages -- from the womb to the tomb -- we really can adequately resolve the issue of the death penalty."
It is expected that the U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee will vote on the moratorium during the second half of November. If it passes there, it will be put to a vote in the General Assembly in mid-December.
A total of 133 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice, including more than 50 that changed their policies since 1990. Sixty-four other countries and territories continue to retain its use.
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Vatican Calls Sport a Means to Unite Humanity
Adds That It's a Vehicle for Personal Development
NEW YORK, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Sport is a way to bring peoples of different cultures and nationalities together, to overcome conflict and to promote personal development, says the Vatican.
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said this Wednesday to the 62nd session of the U.N. General Assembly on sport for peace and development.
Although the history of sport goes back to the earliest civilizations, explained the archbishop, today it "has become a mass phenomenon capable of engaging huge crowds on a grand scale, breaking geographic, racial, social, economic, political and cultural barriers."
"Sport practiced in a healthy and harmonious way is a means to bring together peoples of different cultures and traditions in a respectful and peaceful manner," he said. "Through greater use of sport as dialogue and encounter, the Greek tradition of Olympic Truce can give way to genuine and long-lasting peace."
The Vatican representative recalled that sport can bring together members of warring factions, and although the "moments of unity may be brief and at times fleeting, nonetheless they are an important reminder that in human experience there are many more things that bind us together than those that tear us apart."
Values
Archbishop Migliore also commented on the role of sport in "greater personal and social development."
"Through sport," he said, "the person develops one's creativity and talent, overcomes personal challenges, acquires a sense of belonging and solidarity, learns discipline and a sense of sacrifice. These values redound to the benefit of the greater community and help us understand the value of the common good over personal glory."
The archbishop acknowledged the problem of "abuse and deviance in the practice of sport, which lead to a sports culture devoid of human values," but insisted that "the world of sport continues to have authentic role models and generous protagonists who strive to reclaim the ideal of sport as a real school of humanity, camaraderie, solidarity and excellence."
Archbishop Migliore continued, "A renewed and widely shared emphasis on a human-centered approach to sport would help ensure that the important virtues learned through sports become one of the means for developing and fostering healthy and responsible human interactions."
The Vatican representative spoke of the Olympic Games, to be held in 2008 in Beijing, and recalled that the "Olympic Creed reminds us that the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle."
"May the 2008 Olympic Games," he said, "contribute to the common struggle to make the world a better place for one and all, through the promotion of the inseparable and mutually re-enforcing values of peace, development and full respect for basic human rights."
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ANGELUS
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On Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
"Love ... Is the Force That Renews the World"
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today before reciting the midday Angelus with several thousand people gathered in St. Peter's Square.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Today the liturgy presents the well-known Gospel episode of Jesus' meeting with Zacchaeus in the city of Jericho. Who was Zacchaeus? A rich "publican," that is, a tax collector for the Roman authorities, and precisely for this he was regarded as a public sinner.
Knowing that Jesus was passing through Jericho, this man was seized by a great desire to see him but, being small of stature, he climbed a tree. Jesus stopped beneath the tree and turned to him, calling him by name: "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house" (Luke 19:5).
What a message in this simple phrase! "Zacchaeus": Jesus calls by name a man who is despised by all. "Today": Yes, his moment of salvation is now. "I must stay": Why "must"? Because the Father, who is rich in mercy, wants Jesus to go and "seek out and save what was lost" (Luke 19:10).
The grace of that unforeseeable moment was such that it completely changed Zacchaeus' life: "Behold," he confesses to Jesus, "half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over" (19:8). Once more the Gospel tells us that love, flowing from the heart of God and working through the heart of man, is the force that renews the world.
This truth shines forth in a singular way in the witness of the saint whose feast falls on this day: Charles Borromeo, archbishop of Milan. The figure of St. Charles rises up in the 16th century as the model of the pastor known for his exemplarity in charity, doctrine, apostolic zeal and above all prayer: "We conquer souls," he said, "on our knees."
Consecrated bishop when he was only 25, he put into practice the decree of Trent that demanded that bishops reside in their diocese, and he dedicated himself entirely to the Ambrosian church: three times he visited the entire diocese; he called six provincial synods and 11 diocesan synods; he founded seminaries to form a new generation of priests; he built hospitals and gave his family's wealth to the service of the poor; he defended the Church's rights against the powerful; he renewed religious life and instituted a new congregation of priests, the Oblates.
In 1576, when the plague was wreaking havoc on Milan, he visited and comforted the sick and gave all his goods to them. His motto was a single word: "Humilitas." Humility moved him, as it did the Lord Jesus, to renounce himself to become the servant of all.
Remembering my venerable predecessor John Paul II, who with devotion bore St. Charles' name, let us entrust to the intercession of St. Charles all the bishops of the world, for whom we invoke as always the celestial protection of Mary Most Holy, mother of the Church.
[After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in six languages. In Italian, he said:]
The news that we have received in these last days about the events in the border area between Turkey and Iraq are a source of concern for me and for everyone. I desire, thus, to encourage every effort to reach a peaceful solution to the problems that have recently emerged between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan.
I cannot forget that in that region numerous people, fleeing from the uncertainty and terrorism that have made life in Iraq difficult in these years, have found refuge. Precisely for the good of these people, among whom are many Christians, I strongly desire that all the parties involved work for peaceful solutions.
I desire, furthermore, that the relations among the migrant populations and the local populations develop in the spirit of that high moral civility that is the fruit of spiritual and cultural values of every people and country. May those who are in favor of security and hospitality know how to use the appropriate means to guarantee the rights and duties that are the foundation of all true common life and encounters among peoples.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[In English, he said:]
I happily greet all the English-speaking pilgrims gathered for this Angelus. In today's liturgy, the Book of Wisdom tells us that the Lord has "mercy on all" because he is a "lover of souls" (Wis 11:23, 26). My dear friends, may God's word and your visit to this holy city inspire you to share Jesus's love and mercy to everyone you meet. I wish a joyous Sunday to all!
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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DOCUMENTS
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Holy See's Address on the Values of Sport
"The Most Important Thing in Life Is Not the Triumph, But the Struggle"
NEW YORK, NOV. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the addressed delivered Wednesday by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, to the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly on sport for peace and development.
* * *
Mr President,
The role of sports within and among societies can be traced to some of the earliest civilizations. However, never before has the practice of sport become as firmly established as today. Sport has become a mass phenomenon capable of engaging huge crowds on a grand scale, breaking geographic, racial, social, economic, political and cultural barriers.
Next year, the global community will once again come together to celebrate the ancient tradition of the Olympic Games, in its twenty-ninth modern edition in Beijing. As the world prepares for such an important event, we are reminded of the role that sport can play in the life of every individual and society.
Citius, Altius, Fortius. These three Latin words, coined a century ago by Father Henri Martin Dideon to describe his students' achievements in sports, were adopted as the Olympic motto, because the aspiration to be "swifter, higher, stronger" aptly describes the goals of great athletes all over the world.
Sport practiced in a healthy and harmonious way is a means to bring together peoples of different cultures and traditions in a respectful and peaceful manner. Through greater use of sport as dialogue and encounter, the Greek tradition of Olympic Truce can give way to genuine and long-lasting peace.
In fact, dialogue and encounter through sport holds great potential in the area of peacebuilding and conflict prevention. While the rule of law and justice remain the foundation of durable peace, sport provides the tool for warring factions to come together for a common purpose. These moments of unity may be brief and at times fleeting, nonetheless they are an important reminder that in human experience there are many more things that bind us together than those that tear us apart. In this regard, my delegation notes with appreciation the work of the UN Office of Sport for Development and Peace in fostering this dialogue in conflict-ridden places, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia. We look forward to seeing a greater consolidation of its activity.
Along with fomenting dialogue across cultures and fostering peace, sport can also serve as a means for greater personal and social development. Through sport, the person develops one's creativity and talent, overcomes personal challenges, acquires a sense of belonging and solidarity, learns discipline and a sense of sacrifice. These values redound to the benefit of the greater community and help us understand the value of the common good over personal glory. Thus, we encourage sports figures to be models for youth and to help foster the positive values of sports.
Today's society has seen an increasing number of cases of abuse and deviance in the practice of sport, which lead to a sports culture devoid of human values.
However, the world of sport continues to have authentic role models and generous protagonists who strive to reclaim the ideal of sport as a real school of humanity, camaraderie, solidarity and excellence. A renewed and widely shared emphasis on a human-centred approach to sport would help ensure that the important virtues learned through sports become one of the means for developing and fostering healthy and responsible human interactions.
The Holy See's Office for Church and Sports was created with this ideal of sport in mind. It works with schools, youth groups, amateur sports associations and athletic professionals in order to promote a healthy approach to sport and help young people understand the positive impact sport values can have on both the local and global community.
The Olympic Creed reminds us that the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. May the 2008 Olympic Games contribute to the common struggle to make the world a better place for one and all, through the promotion of the inseparable and mutually re-enforcing values of peace, development and full respect for basic human rights.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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