Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale304

good.1 Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In

reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his na-

tive Poland and in eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows, time

and again, that ''in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation'', and

a democracy without values can lose its very soul.2 Those prophetic words in

some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his

Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent ''indispensable sup-

ports'' of political prosperity.

The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever

more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God.3

She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel

reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman.4

Faith also gives us the strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope

that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democ-

racy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political

leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the

wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future

of the nation.

For well over a century, the United States of America has played an

important role in the international community. On Friday, God willing, I

will have the honor of addressing the United Nations Organization, where I

hope to encourage the efforts under way to make that institution an ever

more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world's peoples.

On this, the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are

to live in a way worthy of their dignity - as brothers and sisters dwelling in

the same house and around that table which God's bounty has set for all his

children. America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting im-

mediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the vic-

tims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater

human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient

efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress.

1 Cf. Spe Salvi, 24. 2 Cf. Centesimus Annus, 46. 3 Cf. Gen 1:26-27. 4 Cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10.