816 Acta Apostolicæ Sedis - Commentarium Officiale

EPISTULA

Ad Praesidem Foederationis Russicae Excellentissimum Dominum Vladimirum

Putin occasione Congressionis Coetus « G20 » apud Petroburgum in Russia

habitae.

To His Excellency

Mr Vladimir Putin

President of the Russian Federation

In the course of this year, you have the honour and the responsibility

of presiding over the Group of the twenty largest economies in the world. I

am aware that the Russian Federation has participated in this group from

the moment of its inception and has always had a positive role to play in

the promotion of good governance of the world's finances, which have been

deeply affected by the crisis of 2008.

In today's highly interdependent context, a global financial framework

with its own just and clear rules is required in order to achieve a more

equitable and fraternal world, in which it is possible to overcome hunger, en-

sure decent employment and housing for all, as well as essential healthcare.

Your presidency of the G20 this year has committed itself to consolidating

the reform of the international financial organizations and to achieving a

consensus on financial standards suited to today's circumstances. However,

the world economy will only develop if it allows a dignified way of life for

all human beings, from the eldest to the unborn child, not just for citizens

of the G20 member states but for every inhabitant of the earth, even those

in extreme social situations or in the remotest places.

From this standpoint, it is clear that, for the world's peoples, armed

conflicts are always a deliberate negation of international harmony, and

create profound divisions and deep wounds which require many years to

heal. Wars are a concrete refusal to pursue the great economic and social

goals that the international community has set itself, as seen, for exam-

ple, in the Millennium Development Goals. Unfortunately, the many armed

conflicts which continue to afflict the world today present us daily with