In a meeting with Argentine President Eduardo Alberto
Duhalde, John Paul II presented the Church's social doctrine as a valuable
instrument to surmount the country's crisis.
Duhalde came to Rome, in part, to make a farewell visit to the Pope. Duhalde
will leave his post in May and be replaced by the winner of the April 27
presidential elections.
In their meeting today, the Pope explained that "behind the situations of
injustice there is always grave moral disorder, which does not improve by
applying strictly technical measures, more or less successful, but above all by
promoting decidedly an ensemble of reforms that favor the rights and duties of
the family as the natural and irreplaceable basis of society."
"Likewise," the Holy Father said, "projects must be fostered for
the defense and development of life that highlight the ethical dimension of the
person, from conception until natural death."
In this context, he suggested that "the legacy of the social doctrine of
the Church continues to be a valuable instrument of direction to surmount the
problems that hinder the construction of a more just, fraternal and
solidaristic order."
The Pope said that in the present Argentine circumstances, "the Church,
witness of hope, is always ready to serve as an instrument of conciliation and
understanding among the different sectors that make up the social fabric, so
that each one will be able to cooperate effectively and actively in surmounting
the difficulties."