Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 303

to contribute ever more responsibly to the life of this nation, of which they

are proud to be citizens.

From the dawn of the Republic, America's quest for freedom has been

guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life

are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the

Creator. The framers of this nation's founding documents drew upon this

conviction when they proclaimed the ''self-evident truth'' that all men are

created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of

nature and of nature's God. The course of American history demonstrates the

difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which

were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble

principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious

beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the

struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too,

particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in

a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations.

In the next few days, I look forward to meeting not only with America's

Catholic community, but with other Christian communities and representa-

tives of the many religious traditions present in this country. Historically,

not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the freedom to worship

God in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, while at the same

time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual and

group can make its voice heard. As the nation faces the increasingly complex

political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American

people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an

inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the

effort to build a more humane and free society.

Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility.

Americans know this from experience - almost every town in this country

has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of

freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for

the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a

sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the cour-

age to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to

reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held

out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of