VATICAN - Benedict XVI, at the close of the Concert for the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “The rights of man are, therefore, ultimately founded in God the Creator, who has given each one the intelligence and freedom. If one ignores this solid ethical base, human rights remain fragile because deprived of a solid foundation.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights “still today constitutes a very high point of reference in the intercultural dialogue on liberty and the rights of man. The dignity of every man, really guaranteed only when all his fundamental rights are recognized, protected and promoted.” This is what was affirmed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI at the close of the Concert promoted by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was held in the Paul VI Audience Hall on the afternoon of December 10.
The Pontiff affirmed that “The Church has always confirmed that the fundamental rights, beyond the different formulations and the different weight they might carry in the realm of the different cultures, are a universal fact, because they are inscribed in the very nature of man. The natural law, written by God in the human conscience, is a common denominator for all men and for all peoples; a universal guide that all can know and on the basis of which all can understand one another. The rights of man are, therefore, ultimately founded in God the Creator, who has given each one the intelligence and freedom. If one ignores this solid ethical base, human rights remain fragile because deprived of a solid foundation.”
The 60th anniversary of the Declaration is the opportunity to verify “in what measure the ideals, accepted by the greater part of the community of Nations in 1948, are respected today in the different national legislations and, even more so, in the conscience of individuals and of the collectivity.” For the Holy Father, it has been a long path, although a long track remains to be completed: “Hundreds of millions of our brothers and sisters still see their rights to life, liberty, and security threatened; the equality of all and the dignity of each is not always respected, while new barriers are raised for reasons linked to race, religion, political opinions or other convictions.” Thus, the Pope expressed his hope that “the common effort to promote and better define the rights of man, therefore, does not cease, and the effort is intensified to guarantee this respect.”
At the beginning of his address, the Pope offered his greetings to the authorities present, and expressed his appreciation to the Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester of Frankfurt, led by Maestro Mrs. Inma Shara. He then thanked the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the St. Matthew Foundation in Memory of Cardinal Francois Xavier Van Thuan for having promoted the concert, which was preceded by the commemorative ceremony for the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by the bestowal of the Cardinal Van Thuan prize on Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the awarding of the prizes "Solidarity and Development" to Father Pedro Opeka, missionary in Madagascar; Father Jose Raul Matte, missionary among lepers of Amazonia; to the recipients of the Gulunap Project, for the realization of a Faculty of Medicine in Northern Uganda; and to those responsible for the Village of the Ercolini project, for the integration of Rom infants and children in Rome. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 11/12/2008)