Pope wants UN to 'redouble' human rights efforts
Friday, 18 Apr 2008 18:58
Pope Benedict XVI continues his visit to the United States
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The Pope has called for efforts to protect human rights to be "redoubled" in his address to the United Nations in New York.
Benedict XVI warned the general assembly some were seeking to "reinterpret the foundations" of the UN's declaration of human rights on the third day of his visit to the United States.
He suggested there were pressures to "facilitate a move away from the protection of human dignity towards the satisfaction of simple interests, often particular interests".
The pontiff made clear his view that religious views should not be ostracised their proper part in "building the social order".
"It should never be necessary to deny God in order to enjoy one's rights," the pope said.
"The rights associated with religion are all the more in need of protection if they are considered to clash with a prevailing secular ideology or with majority religious positions of an exclusive nature."
And he backed the work of the UN in promoting inter-religious dialogue, saying this should be used by countries to "build consensus around the truth concerning particular values or goals".
The pope finished by encouraging the UN in its efforts towards "promoting peace and good will throughout the Earth" and greeting the UN, in its six official languages, "peace and prosperity with God's help!"
Benedict XVI was welcomed to the White House on Wednesday and will be departing from New York back to the Vatican City on Sunday.
The pontiff's itinerary for Saturday includes a visit to Ground Zero and a homily during a mass at the Yankee Stadium.