At 12:10pm today, in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience a group of participants taking part in an International Conference on Human Rights, taking place in Rome at the Caribinieri Officer School under the patronage of the Commander General of the Caribinieri and the Ministry of the Defence. This year's gathering - the third of its kind - is focusing on the theme: The Protection of civil populations in conflict - The Role of Humanitarian Organizations and of Civil Society and focuses on te role that civil society in general and humanitarian organizations in particular are part of international law and international humanitarian law.
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am pleased to welcome you and I thank the Honourable Minister of the Italian Government for the words with which he introduced this meeting. I cordially greet the Authorities present and all the participants taking part in the 3rd Conference on International Human Rights, which has as its theme: The protection of civil populations in conflict - The role of humanitarian organizations and civil society.
This theme is particularly significant on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the two Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions relating to the protection of victims of armed conflict. Convinced of the essential negative character of war and that mankind's most hoped for resolution is the abolition of war, the Holy See has ratified these two accords in order to encourage a humanization of the effects of armed conflict (Declaration of the Holy See on the occasion of the ratification of the Protocols added to the Geneva Conventions on 12 August 1949 in relation to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts, 8 June 1977). It has not failed to appreciate, in particular, provisions relating to the protection of civil populations and goods which are indispensable for the survival of these peoples, in respect to health and religious personnel, the protection of cultural and religious goods, as well as the natural environment, our common home. However, the Holy See, aware of the omissions and hesitations that characterize above all the Second Additional Protocol, the one which relates to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts, is continuing its consideration of these instruments as an open door toward further developments in international human rights (Declaration of the Holy See, 8 June 1977), which can adequately take into account the characteristics of contemporary armed conflicts as well as physical, moral and spiritual suffering that is associated with them.
In fact, despite the laudable attempts to reduce the negative consequences of hostility toward civil populations - through the codification of human rights - which too often result from various theatres of war, evidence of atrocious crimes, true offences against persons and their dignity are committed in contempt of every elementary consideration of humanity. Images of lifeless people, of mutilated and decapitated bodies, of our tortured brothers and sisters, crucified, burned alive, degraded even to the point of their remains, question even the consciences of humanity. On the other hand, we hear news of ancient cities - with their thousands of cultural treasures - reduced to piles of rubble, hospitals and schools made the objects of deliberate attacks and destruction - thus depriving entire generations of their right to life, health and education. How many churches and other places of worship have been the objects of targeted aggression, often especially during liturgical celebrations, with many victims among the faithful and the ministers gathered in prayer, in violation of their fundamental right to freedom of religion! Unfortunately, at times, the spread of this news can result in some saturation which anesthetizes - and to some extent - relativizes the gravity of the problems, making it more difficult to move people to compassion and to open their consciences in solidarity (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace 2016, 3). For this to happen, a conversion of heart is necessary, an openness to God and to our neighbours, which motivates others to go beyond the confines of indifference and to live in solidarity, as a moral virtue and a social attitude, from which a commitment in favour of suffering humanity can develop (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace 2016, 6).
At the same time however, it is encouraging to see the many demonstrations of solidarity and care that are evident in time of war. There are many people, many charity groups and non-governmental organizations, both within and outside the Church, whose members face fatigue and many dangers in order to care for the wounded and the sick, even to bury the dead (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace 2016, 7) in order to deliver food to the hungry and drink to those who are thirsty, to visit those who are imprisoned. In truth, relief efforts aimed at those who are victims of conflict include different works of mercy, based on which we will be judged at the end of time. Would that humanitarian organizations might always work in conformity with the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. I hope therefore that these principles, which are at the heart of human rights, will be welcomed into the consciences of fighters and humanitarian workers so that they may be translated into practice (Declaration of the Holy See, 8 June 1977). In circumstances where humanitarian law experiences hesitations and omissions, we know that individual consciences recognize the moral right of respecting and protecting the dignity of the human person in all circumstances, especially in situations where it is most strongly threatened. For this to be possible, I would like to recall the importance of prayer and of assuring, along with technical and juridical formation, spiritual accompaniment for combatants and humanitarian workers.
Dear brothers and sisters, to all of you - and among you there are not only a few - who have endangered your own lives in order to save another person or to relieve the sufferings of populations who have become victims of armed conflict, I offer the words of Jesus in Matthew's gospel: Every time you did this to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me (Mt 25:40). I entrust you to the intercession of Blessed Mary, the Queen of Peace and while I ask you please to pray also for me, I willingly impart my Apostolic blessing upon all of you and upon your families.
Thank you!
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to the Conference on International Human Rights
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am pleased to welcome you and I thank the Honourable Minister of the Italian Government for the words with which he introduced this meeting. I cordially greet the Authorities present and all the participants taking part in the 3rd Conference on International Human Rights, which has as its theme: The protection of civil populations in conflict - The role of humanitarian organizations and civil society.
This theme is particularly significant on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the two Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions relating to the protection of victims of armed conflict. Convinced of the essential negative character of war and that mankind's most hoped for resolution is the abolition of war, the Holy See has ratified these two accords in order to encourage a humanization of the effects of armed conflict (Declaration of the Holy See on the occasion of the ratification of the Protocols added to the Geneva Conventions on 12 August 1949 in relation to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts, 8 June 1977). It has not failed to appreciate, in particular, provisions relating to the protection of civil populations and goods which are indispensable for the survival of these peoples, in respect to health and religious personnel, the protection of cultural and religious goods, as well as the natural environment, our common home. However, the Holy See, aware of the omissions and hesitations that characterize above all the Second Additional Protocol, the one which relates to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts, is continuing its consideration of these instruments as an open door toward further developments in international human rights (Declaration of the Holy See, 8 June 1977), which can adequately take into account the characteristics of contemporary armed conflicts as well as physical, moral and spiritual suffering that is associated with them.
In fact, despite the laudable attempts to reduce the negative consequences of hostility toward civil populations - through the codification of human rights - which too often result from various theatres of war, evidence of atrocious crimes, true offences against persons and their dignity are committed in contempt of every elementary consideration of humanity. Images of lifeless people, of mutilated and decapitated bodies, of our tortured brothers and sisters, crucified, burned alive, degraded even to the point of their remains, question even the consciences of humanity. On the other hand, we hear news of ancient cities - with their thousands of cultural treasures - reduced to piles of rubble, hospitals and schools made the objects of deliberate attacks and destruction - thus depriving entire generations of their right to life, health and education. How many churches and other places of worship have been the objects of targeted aggression, often especially during liturgical celebrations, with many victims among the faithful and the ministers gathered in prayer, in violation of their fundamental right to freedom of religion! Unfortunately, at times, the spread of this news can result in some saturation which anesthetizes - and to some extent - relativizes the gravity of the problems, making it more difficult to move people to compassion and to open their consciences in solidarity (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace 2016, 3). For this to happen, a conversion of heart is necessary, an openness to God and to our neighbours, which motivates others to go beyond the confines of indifference and to live in solidarity, as a moral virtue and a social attitude, from which a commitment in favour of suffering humanity can develop (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace 2016, 6).
At the same time however, it is encouraging to see the many demonstrations of solidarity and care that are evident in time of war. There are many people, many charity groups and non-governmental organizations, both within and outside the Church, whose members face fatigue and many dangers in order to care for the wounded and the sick, even to bury the dead (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace 2016, 7) in order to deliver food to the hungry and drink to those who are thirsty, to visit those who are imprisoned. In truth, relief efforts aimed at those who are victims of conflict include different works of mercy, based on which we will be judged at the end of time. Would that humanitarian organizations might always work in conformity with the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. I hope therefore that these principles, which are at the heart of human rights, will be welcomed into the consciences of fighters and humanitarian workers so that they may be translated into practice (Declaration of the Holy See, 8 June 1977). In circumstances where humanitarian law experiences hesitations and omissions, we know that individual consciences recognize the moral right of respecting and protecting the dignity of the human person in all circumstances, especially in situations where it is most strongly threatened. For this to be possible, I would like to recall the importance of prayer and of assuring, along with technical and juridical formation, spiritual accompaniment for combatants and humanitarian workers.
Dear brothers and sisters, to all of you - and among you there are not only a few - who have endangered your own lives in order to save another person or to relieve the sufferings of populations who have become victims of armed conflict, I offer the words of Jesus in Matthew's gospel: Every time you did this to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me (Mt 25:40). I entrust you to the intercession of Blessed Mary, the Queen of Peace and while I ask you please to pray also for me, I willingly impart my Apostolic blessing upon all of you and upon your families.
Thank you!
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