杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

The Pontifical Academy of Science (PAS) is meeting in Rome for its Plenary Assembly. Members of the Academy met in audience with 杏MAP导航 Francis on Monday. The 杏MAP导航 welcomed them and thanked them for their contribution to providing solutions for many of the world鈥檚 contemporary problems.

Scientific world and society

杏MAP导航 Francis began his address acknowledging that the scientific world is more aware of how complex the world and human beings are. He noted that this has led science to be less isolated and more open to spiritual and religious values. 鈥淐ommonly shared opinions鈥� and the 鈥渄esire for happiness鈥� often influence scientific research, the 杏MAP导航 added. Therefore, the relationship between values and people, society and science 鈥渄emands a rethinking鈥� that promotes the 鈥渋ntegral advancement鈥� of each person and the common good. As a part of society, the scientific community is called to serve humanity and its integral development, the 杏MAP导航 said.

Science at the service of the human family

Some areas 杏MAP导航 Francis named as 鈥減ossible fruits鈥� of that service are: climate change, nuclear arms, fossil fuels, and deforestation. Science has identified the risks in these areas, the 杏MAP导航 said, so they can also propose convincing solutions to the world鈥檚 leaders.

Solutions

The 杏MAP导航 said he appreciates that the PAS is employing the latest knowledge to propose solutions and combat 鈥渟courges鈥� confronting society. 鈥淗uman trafficking鈥� and the consequent 鈥渇orced labor, prostitution and organ trafficking鈥�, and the 鈥渆limination of hunger and thirst鈥� are the two issues the 杏MAP导航 focused on. He mentioned that there are 鈥渆ight hundred million needy and excluded鈥� persons in the world suffering from lack of food and water. A 鈥渃hange in our way of living鈥� is necessary, he said.

Lack of will

Turning his remarks to the political sphere, 杏MAP导航 Francis expressed that there 鈥渋s a lack of will and political determination to halt the arms race and end wars鈥�. This is necessary to move toward developing 鈥渟ources of renewable energy,鈥� 鈥渆nsuring water, food and health for all,鈥� and investing capital for the common good.

 鈥淐harity of knowledge鈥�

The Church expects a 鈥減ositive service鈥� from science, 杏MAP导航 Francis said 鈥� the 鈥渃harity of knowledge鈥�, as St Paul VI termed it. Knowledge is what the scientific community has, 杏MAP导航 Francis continued. In the name of those who rarely benefit from the world鈥檚 knowledge, the 杏MAP导航 advocated for them.

鈥淢ay your research benefit all, so that the peoples of the earth will be fed, given to drink, healed and educated; may politics and economics draw indications from you on how to advance with greater certainty towards the common good, for the benefit especially of the poor and those in need, and towards respect for our planet.鈥�