by Matthew Hay Brown
The challenges of security, development and the environment require international cooperation -- but the "decisions of a few' have thrown international consensus into crisis, Pope Benedict XVI told the U.N. General Assembly.
An outspoken critic of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the pontiff didn't name names. And he might not have been referring to any conflict in particular. Still, he echoed a familiar criticism of the Bush administration when he called for "a deeper search for ways of pre-empting and managing conflicts by exploring every possible diplomatic avenue, and giving attention and encouragement to even the faintest sign of dialogue or desire for reconciliation."
Speaking in French and English, Benedict called it the "primary duty" of every state "to protect its own population from grave and sustained violations of human rights, as well as from the consequences of humanitarian crises, whether natural or man-made." Where a state cannot guarantee such protection, he said, "the international community must intervene."
Benedict devoted his address to human rights, including the right to religion, which he said must extend beyond freedom to worship to include thew right of the religious to engage in public life.
"It is inconceivable that believers should have to suppress a part of themselves - their faith - in order to be active citizens," he said. "It should never be necessary to deny God in order to enjoy one's rights."
The complete address follows.
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