杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

Two letters addressed to Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, President of the Ratzinger Foundation: the first, dated November 12th, from 杏MAP导航 Emeritus Benedict XVI, and the second, dated November 13th, from 杏MAP导航 Francis.

These were written to mark the inauguration of the 2018 International Symposium 鈥淔undamental rights and conflicts among rights鈥�, being held by the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation in Rome.

Benedict's letter

杏MAP导航 Emeritus Benedict XVI expresses his respect for the theme of this year鈥檚 symposium. In his letter, he recalls his 鈥渋mmediate appreciation of the initiative鈥� when it was first announced to him, and states that he considers the symposium 鈥渆xtremely useful鈥�. He appreciates it in particular, he says, because it is important to discuss the 鈥減roblematics of 鈥榯he multiplication of rights鈥欌�� as well as 鈥渢he risk of the 鈥榙estruction of the idea of Rights鈥�.鈥�

This topic, the 杏MAP导航 Emeritus says, is fundamental to protect the foundations necessary 鈥渢o live together as a human family鈥�, as this is a theme which, he believes, 鈥渄eserves to be placed at the heart of deep, systematic reflection鈥�. He acknowledges that this is precisely what the symposium is trying to achieve.

Francis' letter

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� letter begins by wishing all speakers and participants at the symposium 鈥溾��fruitful work鈥�. He talks about the relevance the Symposium has today, as we approach the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The 杏MAP导航 sees this occasion not only as an opportunity to celebrate the memory of this Declaration but also as an opportunity to 鈥渋mpose deep reflection on its application and on its development in the vision of Human Rights in today鈥檚 day and age鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 mentions that during last year鈥檚 Discourse to the Diplomatic Corps, dedicated precisely to this Declaration, he 鈥渙bserved that its aim is to remove the separating walls that divide the human family and to favour integral human development.鈥� He says that as the years go by 鈥渘ew rights鈥� have formed and that, at times, they contradict one another opening 鈥渁 series of problems that deeply involve the basis of the concept of rights鈥�.

鈥溞覯AP导航 Benedict XVI鈥�, he continues, 鈥渟hone light on the urgencies of these themes and intervened authoritatively, both as a thinker and as a pastor鈥�. For this reason, 杏MAP导航 Francis explains, Benedict XVI was awarded an honorary degree in Law.

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis expresses his wish that through the inspiration of 鈥渙ur beloved 杏MAP导航 Emeritus鈥� the symposium might help to contribute to highlighting an essential problem regarding the protection of Human Dignity and Integral Development.