Pope’s New Year’s Address Stresses Sanctity of Life, Marriage
John Paul explained that the Vatican will tackle the “challenges of life” issues – namely abortion, cloning, gay marriage, assisted procreation and embryonic stem cell use, in the coming year.
Pope John Paul II emphasized again the need to protect the family, combat hunger, and preserve life, during his traditional New Year’s address, Monday, January 10, 2005.
John Paul’s address, traditionally seen as the method to set out the Vatican’s priorities for the coming year, was delivered before diplomatic corps representing 174 countries. According to the Associated Press, John Paul explained that the Vatican will tackle the “challenges of life” issues – namely abortion, cloning, gay marriage, assisted procreation and embryonic stem cell use.
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Families “must necessarily be that of a union between a man and a woman founded on marriage," the Pontiff explained, noting that in some countries the family’s “natural structure” has been challenged.
In reference to the debate over abortion and stem-cell research, John Paul added: “The human embryo is a subject identical to the human being, which will be born at the term of its development.”
Shifting his focus to world poverty, the pope said that more most be done about hunger, especially the malnutrition of millions of children.
"An adequate response to this need, which is growing in scale and urgency, calls for a vast moral mobilization of public opinion; the same applies all the more to political leaders, especially in those countries enjoying a sufficient or even prosperous standard of living," the pontiff said.
Another concern he mentioned was the lack of religious liberty in many countries.
"There need be no fear that legitimate religious freedom would limit other freedoms or be injurious to the life of civil society," he said without naming any particular countries.
In light of such sufferings and challenges, the pope urged a “vast moral mobilization of public opinion,” especially in wealthier countries.
Following his address, which was mostly read out loud by his aides, the Pope entertained the ambassadors and their spouses who came to him to shake or kiss his hands. Ambassadors came from 174 nations with full diplomatic ties with the Vatican, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Russian Federation.
