VATICAN - CARDINAL MARTINO, PRESIDENT OF PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE, WILL ADDRESS PERUVIAN PARLIAMENT ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND GIVE MAIN TALK AT 7TH NATIONAL CATHOLIC SOCIAL PASTORAL WEEK

Vatican City (Fides Service) – The need for all sectors of society to work to promote respect for human rights and democracy will be the central theme of an address which Cardinal Renato R. Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will make to the Peruvian parliament in Lima. The occasion, attended by high ranking church and civil authorities, will be a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the encyclical Pacem in Terris by Pope John XXIII.
On 10 December in Lima Cardinal Martino will visit the Standing Council of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference and the Bishops’ Commission for Social Action, after which he will give a press conference. In the afternoon the Cardinal will preside an ecumenical prayer service for peace in honour of Pope John XXIII and in the evening he will present the annual National Human Rights Co-ordination Award 2003 to Salomón Lerner, Rector of the Pontifical University of Peru president of the Bishops’ Commission for National Reconciliation and Pacification.
On 11 December Cardinal Martino will give the main talk at the 7th National Catholic Social-Pastoral Week organised by a social pastoral Commission of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference on the theme: “La Pacem in Terris and the Church’s commitment for Human Rights”. He will outline the progressive and increasing ecclesial activity at the universal and local level to promote respect for the dignity of every human person. (S.L.) (Fides Service 9/12/2003 – lines 18; words 226)