Pope's New social encyclical due by March 19th

I have the full text of the Pope's statements on Globalization here tht were said at last Sunday's Mass. They were at the tail end of his beautiful homily but I think they were significant. It appears the Holy Father's very much awaited Social Encyclical might be released on March 19th. This Italian Paper has the details. Thank to the Ratizinger Forum for the translaton.

The Vatican story in Il Messaggero yesterday reported the Pope's statements about globalization in his homily at the Mass of the Epiphany on Sunday, but also indicated a date for the release of the Pope's awaited social encyclical which is expected to center on the phenomenon of globalization and its negative effects against the 'common good'.

Here is a translation:
The Pope on globalization:
'Criterion should be the common good'
By FRANCA GIANSOLDATI VATICAN CITY -

Benedict XVI allied with the 'NO GLOBAL' [NO to globalization] forces. As open-minded on social and environmental questions as he is firm on doctrine, Pope Benedict XVI would inspire even the entire population of Seattle [the writer uses the city - site of serious anti-globalization demonstrations in the past - as a synonym for wide-open liberalism].

The words pronounced by the Pope at the Mass of the Epiphany, in a Basilica overflowing with the faithful, reflect the concern of the Church, which is a direct witness - through its army of missionaries and priests in all the corners of the world - of the wide disparity between the ever more opulent North and the ever poorer South of the globe.

"Even today, what the prophet once said remains valid: 'a dark cloud covers all the nations'", he said, adding: "We cannot say that globalization is synonymous to world order, but rather, its opposite. Conflicts for economic supremacy and the monopoly of energy and water resources and raw materials have made the work difficult for all who are trying to build a more just and fraternal world" The Pope shares the analysis of the anti-globalization movements about the unwarranted power of multinational corporations, a power at times so strong as to lead the governments to making policy choices about energy and ecology that are not sustainable nor respectful of local conditions, and thus dangerous and non-beneficial to the citizens.

What the Pope is suggesting to a West closed in on itself is to open its heart to Christian hope as the only antidote capable of holding back the siren calls of selfishness and preoccupation with the superfluous and excess that can mean the ruin of the individual and society. "There is a need," he said, "of a greater hope which allows us to prefer the common good tather than the luxury of a few and the poverty of many."

Moderation, he added, is not just an ascetic rule, but it could be 'the way of salvation for humanity' - with governments and peoples opting for generosity, sharing and justice. "It has become evident that only by adapting a moderate lifestyle, accompanied by a serious commitment for the equitable distribution of resources, will it be possible to establish a just and sustainable order of development." He expressed the hope for far-sighted and courageous governments who can make hard choices just as "the Magi did when they undertook a long voyage following a star, who knew how to kneel before a Baby and offer him their precious gifts."

The issue of globalization, which has been one of Papa Ratzinger's primary concerns, will be at the center of his first social encyclical. It has been leaked from the Vatican that the encyclical will be made public on March 19, feast of St. Joseph, patron of laborers. (It will also be the Pope's name day.) Globalization has been a key point in many Papal documents - from an appeal to the G8 during their June 2007 summit, with a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel asking her to urge her colleagues to help Africa more and to forgive debts to poor countries, to his homily during his pastoral visit to Velletri in September, when he denounced globalization carried out only for economic reasons.

Without denouncing profit in itself, the Pope said ethical considerations should prevent profit alone from being the guideline for human behavior, which should instead express itself in sharing and solidarity, nbecause "Geneerosity expresses sincere love for everyone." John Paul II paved the way for the Church campaign against 'selfish' globalization, issuing three social encyclicals and a number of addresses which at times had the approval of the Italian Rifondazione (Communist Party) leader Fausto Bertinotti and Fidel Castro. Benedict XVI picked it up, urging nations to be generous considering that states and peoples are now interdependent, that the West cannot be silent before the tragedy of hunger among millions upon millions of people in the poorer countries, and that not to see the consequences of such selfishness undermines developnment in the whole world .
Il Messaggero, 7 gennaio 2008