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Haupt arrow newsitems arrow €uroarea eco-pol. Integration decided collectively=> EU asks to free Global Growth potential via G20

€uroarea eco-pol. Integration decided collectively=> EU asks to free Global Growth potential via G20

Geschrieben von ACM
Thursday, 27 October 2011
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€uroarea's Integration, in economic Governance and at a political, Heads of State/Government level, initialy proposed by French President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel since August 2011, (see relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport from Elysee palace), was collectively decided this last week of October 2011 by the latest €uroarea's Summits in Brussels and warmly endorsed by a 2/3 large Majority of EU Parliament's leaders today in Strasbourg, opening, at the same time, an emerging EU move towards creating the conditions which could liberate Growth potential Worldwide, including Development, via the forthcoming G20 Summit at the beginning of November in Cannes.


Meanwhile, EU also decided several New Measures to definitively deal with Sovereign Debt issues of the Past in a few countries, including innovative ways to multiply the European Stablity Fund up to 400% until 1.400 Billions $, stricter €uroarea Budgets' Supervision, etc, as well as an overall deal on the specific, Financial-Political issue affecting Greece in fact since 1980-2010, (particularly after the 1999-2000 deal for Freece's early entry in €uroarea in axchange of Turkey's controversial EU bid : See previous, reelvant "EuroFora"s publications), with a restructuration "haircut" of 50% in agreement with Banks, which were given guarantees and recapitalisation support, allowing a deeper review of concrete details on Structural Reforms and ways to find larger Political support before the end of 2011.


At the same time that EU's political leaders fixed as target to boost G-20 action for adequate Changes in the Global Monetary system, against extreme volatility of Oil and Food products (particularly by speculation on financial derivatives, etc), inside a wider move aiming to set at least some Basic Rules on Global Financial transactions, including a Tax, so that they could focus less on speculation and more on Real Economy's development, to meet the needs dramatically highlighted by Lower Growth prospects Worldwide than previously expected, and by a growing Global Popular Movement, from Tunisia, Syria, Madrid and Athens up to Chicago, California, Boston and N.Y.'s Wall Street, (comp. "EuroFora"s NewsReport on the preparatory G20 Ministerial Summit in Paris, October 15).
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(A) On deepening €uroarea :
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Stressing from the outset that "€uro is at the Core of our European project", not only for Economic and Financial "Stability and Prosperity", but also for "Peace",  the Official Communiqué of the 17 Heads of State/Government clearly anounced their "unawavering Determination .... to take all the necessary steps towards a Deeper Economic Union", (also in order to "improve Competitiveness, thereby achieving further Convergence of policies to promote Growth and Employment").

The Collective Agreement included Sarkozy and Merkel's historic proposal to "regularly" hold €uroArea 17's Heads of State/Government Summits, "at least twice" a year, in addition to EU 27's traditional Summits, i.e. accepting an inevitably Political (and, therefore, unpredictable) dimension to the €-move.. "Additional" "€uro Summits" "can be called ... if necessary". All of them "will define Strategic orientations for the conduct of economic policies and for improved Competitiveness and increased Convergence in the €uro area". Before mid-2012 €uroArea leaders will decide whether they will have a "Full-time President based in Brussels", or if he/she should be elected among the 17 Heads of State/Government of €uroarea Member Countries.At any case, the Presidents of €uroSummit, EU Commission and €uroGroup "will meet regularly, at least once a Month".  

Already, €uroarea decided to bring soon into play "a significant strengthening of economic and fiscal Coordination and Surveillance", putting in place "a set of
very specific Measures, going beyond and above the recently adopted package on economic governance", (See "EuroFora"s June and July 2011 relevant NewsReports), in addition to other "10 Measures to improve the Governance of the Euro area". They also asked Van Rompuy, Barroso and Juncker, (Presidents of EU Council, EU Commission and €uroGroup, respectively), "to identify possible steps to strengthen the economic union, including" by "limited Treaty changes", on which they expect 2 Reports, between December 2011 - March 2012, on "Orientations" and their "Implementation". .

Among "additional Measures"; "building on the .. European Semester and the EuroPlus Pact, just adopted", are also the "adoption, by each ... Member State" of the "Golden Rule" (aka : "Debt Brake") "on Balanced Budget, .. preferably at Constitutional level or equivalent, by the end of 2012", (See "EuroFora"s August 16 NewsReport from the Franco-German Summit), the "commitment to stick to EU Commission's Recommendations on the conduct of Economic and Budgetary Policies" of each Member State, (which can be issued even "before the adoption of National Draft Budgets" concerning "States in excessive Deficit procedure", as Van Rompuy noted in EU Parliament in Strasbourg), etc.
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    After adequate "Political Decisions" were taken, marking a "Breakthrough" due to be completed by Legal/Technical follow-up, now, "the Tough Task Ahead" is to "Monitor Implementation" by Member States, in order to really achieve the desired result of "Deepening" €uroarea, concluded Van Rompuy, after debating with MEPs in EU Parliament's plenary in Strasbourg.
    
    -  "For more than a Year", (3/2010-10/2011) in addition to "taking Emergency Action", we have "also (been) putting together; step by step, a New Economic Governance", he observed earlier.

    + But, "these Last Months" there was an "Acceleration", because of "Market Speculation" and "growing Volatility" since July, given also  that "Global Economic Growth is Slowing Dramatically, not only to Europe but also in the USA and in some Emerging Countries"; he warned. That's why, "Stimulating Growth is an Essential part of the package", since, "in the end, Sustaind Economic Growth can bring back Confidence, create Jobs and absorb Debts", Van Rompuy pointed out.

    "Monetary policy alone is not enough" : "We cannot have a Common Currency, (and) Monetary policy", but "leave everything else to the States" ; On the contrary, we (€uroarea) have to go Further", he stressed, "while also keeping the Integrity of the Single Market between our 27 States of the EU, so that we could have "the 2 Configurations".
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    British Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking earlier this week at the House of Commons, highlighted in substance the fact that, by sticking to the 27 Countries' strong Single Market and trying to freeze EU's  Budgets, (according to his earlier, joint Letter, co-signed also by German Chancelor Merkel and French President Sarkozy), while €uroarea's 17 Member Countries are now Moving towards Deeper Integration, a New GeoPolitical reality may emerge soon in Europe, which might satisfy both EU-sceptics and supporters of a progressive or faster confederation, even federation at another horizon...

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    French President Sarkozy, 2011 Chairman of G20-G8, expressed in Brussels his satisfaction for the fact that "extremely heavy decisions, that nobody would have imagined before 1,5 Year", were taken by an €uroarea Summit of Heads of State/Government, a body who "didn't even exist 2 Years earlier", according to the wish of those (including France) who were always in favor of the creation of an "Economic Government" for €urozone.

    + Sarkozy also stressed, in an exceptional TV interview in Paris later tonight, that France and Germany intend to spearhead, at EU's core, a strong and growing €uroarea's integration developing an innovative and competitive economy able to play an important role at a Global level.

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    Meanwhile, the French President made it clear, replying to Journalists' questions, that €uroarea's integration "will need also other steps, but, next time, they won't have to be necessarily Institutional", unlike the present ones. They will rather be "based on Fiscal Convergence, Economic Competitiveness' convergence, and, in general "in Policy content", he highlighted, after qualifying the "Decisions taken" this week as "Historic".
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    + This is in addition to the present French and German leaders' care for an €uroarea action in order to find urgent practical solutions, for Countries as Greece, etc., in which there are "sufferings, demonstrations and social problems", "raising also Democratic problems, since we are asked to take decisions in favor of countries for which we weren't elected", as he noted in reply to another, critical question, denouncing the fact that "there wasn't Mrs Merkel or myself among those who had asked, in the Past, to "Soften" the Stability Pact", so that "they could push inside certain Countries which were Not Ready yet for €uroZone and droped (financial) discipline", so that "they didn't meet then the required Conditions", mainly because of "choices that they had made to get indebted", leaving also "Debts accumulate since 30 Years", when "others were responsible", (as Sarkozy rightfuly criticized for the "Socialist" former Governments in Germany, France, the UK and Italy (as Schroeder;, Jospin, Blair, Alema, etc), including in EU Commission (with Prodi as former Head), during the crucial 1999-2001 era, when they notoriously had closed their eyes, f.ex. on Greece's need to make structural Reforms before entering €urozone, in exchange of Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, despite the fact that it didn't, no more, meet EU's conditions on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law respect, nor even European identity, History, Geography and Culture, etc. : See previous, relevant "EuroFora"s publications on this point. A fact that, progressively, also other key EU Politicians start to denounce, including, f.ex. the Historic long-time former German Chancellor, and "father" of EU's ReUnification, Helmut Kohl, recently).

- "That's another reason for which €urozone must prepare also the Protection of all other Countries, since things are interlinked" in practice, "and we want to learn how to Work Better and otherwise in the Future.... That's something New, without any precedent, a new situation inside a Monetary zone as €uroarea, so that no Expert could tell us which is the 100% safe solution. But we have the Responsibility not only to act with Courage, but also to measure well the consequences for Tomorrow", so that "we must Advance step by step, finding out what could be the Next Stage", Sarkozy concluded.

- "This is not a "Big Bang", but an Important Package on the road towards Stability and Union", which has "a lot of Substance" and "a Multi-Dimensional" aspecy, added German Chancellor Merkel in her Press Conference in Brussels.
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(B) => on G 20 :
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The  G-20 Chairman, strongly supported by German Chancellor Merkel, as well as by a large Majority in €urozone and the whole EU, went on to confirm  Europe's call to the forthcoming G-20 Heads of State/Government Summit at Cannes (France, 3-4 November 2011), for the establishment of a Financial Transactions' Tax, Worldwide, while it has become today obvious that "the Financial sector must be Regulated, and invited to undertake its own Responsibilities, since the whole World is there where it is now, (i.e. with Low Growth, after a Global Economic and Financial Crisis), naturally because there were too many Debts, but also because there was a (Global) Financial System which didn't obey to any Rule", as Sarkozy denounced, (while Popular Demonstrations are recently mushrooming throughout all over the World, from the USa also to the EU, etc.

- "We must definitively turn the page of that kind of World of the Past, (mainly) by opposing a certain number of Regulations, able to prevent the same causes provoke the same results", the 2011 G-20 Chairman warned, calling all involved to drop criticising eachother and better "focus on finding Solutions" to problems, as he said.

-"This is really a Moral, Political and Economic duty", stressed Sarkozy, "absolutely supported" by Merkel.
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- "G 20 Countries are due to take Crucial Decisions", in "a great Rendez-vous", stressed earlier Sarkozy, while "confirming France's involvement in favor of (Global) Development", in a landmark speech in Paris.


- "We all know Today, as the Global Crisis reminds us, that there is a Community of Fate over Global balances", so that "All Countries are now concerned by the issue of Development, regardless if they receive or provide some Aide, whether they've just got out of Pauverty, or recently threatened by it : All must present their proposals in order to build a Stable, Sustainable and prosper Model",  he pointed out.


- Also because "the G 20 must become an incarnation of the General Interest", with "Multilateralism", "Transparency",and  "Openess to Civil Society", said from the outset the French President, who is also due to meet with NGO's representatives personally in Paris at the eve of the Cannes' G 20 Summit.


- "G 20 brought Responses to the Global Economic Crisis of 2008 and 2009", while "now we face a Debt Crisis among Advanced (developed) Countries", but "we must not forget also to look at the Future, for Sustainable Development", since, "while acting together to respond to Crisis, we must also prepare profound Reforms able to ensure the sustainable Growth that we need in the Futture, .. by rectifying the Global Economy's misfunctionings, and by setting up New Motors for Growth", the 2011 G 20 Chairman dynamicaly outlined.

- Because, today, "there is no more a Sustainable Future Growth for the Global Economy, without a shared Development", Sarkozy strongly underlined.


- "For more than 50 Years the Public Opinion points to scandalous Inequalities throughout the Globe, but Today things evolved : The old Distinction between North and South is no more pertinent", and "we must have a New View on evolving Continents such as Asia, Latin American, but mainly Africa", in "a New World where imbalances changed locations.. Thus, Development is No more a balance to be found between two Groups of Countries, but a Collective Involvement of All for the General Interest", he reiterated.

=> Because "the Aid to Developing Countries becomes a Major element for Global Economy's stimulation and relaunch: The Global Revival comes through an Augmentation of the Consumption and of Investment in Developing Countries, including, even, of low revenue". By boosting Growth in Poor Countries, by Stimulating domestic Demand, reducng Inequalities, etc; we can give to Developing Countries a Momentum able to pull upwards the enttire Global Economy", Sarkozy innovated ambitiously


- "Food Security, Infrastructures, Social Protection and the hard Question of how to Fund Development", are the "4 main areas" where the French 2011 G20 Presidency wants to "prepare concrete Projects and Priority Actions", he noted, "because we want a New Face of Globalisation, which will be no more limited to immediate gain, as that which brought the World near a Catastrophe, but a Nexw Globalisation, able to respond to Global Challenges and anticipate what is at stake in the Futiure".


(../..)


Indeed, "EU, united all together, will push at the forthcoming G 20 Summit for an ambitious Action Plan able to redress what is hindering the potential of Growth at Global level, stressed today EU Commission's President Barroso, speaking at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.


- "Europe strives to lead the Global Crisis Response at the G20", and "it"s the 1st constituency in the G20 to have proposed a Financial Transactions Tax, which ..can be used to face Global Challenges, such as to Fight Poverty, etc, he added, among others.


- "The Protest Movements,; we have witnessed in recent weeks, from  Madrid to Manhattan, show that this is the kind of action People expect from their Leaders", (including, fex; to ensure that Financial sector and Banks also contribute to Society", Barroso concluded, applauded by several MEPs.
 

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Benedict's "Source" to revitalize Europe : - "The World needs Hope", Pope says, calling to relaunch E.U. via Human Rights !

Paris - Lourdes - Strasbourg : 12 - 17 September 2008.

The vital need to re-launch Europe can be succesfully met by defending fundamental Human Rights of the People, said Pope Benedict XVI in his 1st speech in France, at his meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy, who currently chairs the EU.

Sarkozy replied by welcoming Christian and other religions' contribution to indispensable Public Debates on crucial issues which affect Human Dignity, Europe, even Humankind, as BioGenetics.

- "When Europeans will see and personally experience that the inalienable Rights of the Human Person .., those of their free Education, their Family life, their Work, ..their Religious Rights, ..are respected and promoted, then, these Europeans will fully understand the greatness of the European construction and will be actively involved in it", Benedict XVI stressed.

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- "It's important that during France's EU Presidency, there is, indeed, a desire for the Church to contribute to protect Human Person's integrity, and I think that there is also a growing Conscience, beyond any polemics, to defend Human Rights, and, thus, contribute to ensure respect for Human Dignity", added to "EuroFora" the Pope's Spokesman, Vatican's Press Director Federico Lombardi.

- "Nobody really told us here that Lisbon Treaty was good for this or that reason to the People. They only told us that we "had" to ratify it, and tried to scare us, but failed", said 2 Irish pilgrims to "EuroFora", after 2 Majority Abstentions in 1999 and 2004 EU Elections and 3 "NO" to Referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005, followed by the Irish "No" in 2008, during a Decade of EU Crisis since the controversial Turkey EU- bid (1999-2008).

More than .."224 cases of Murders, Torture, "Disappearancies" or Destructions" by "agents of Turkish Security forces", where all those responsible for so heavy Crimes still remain scandalously unpunished, despite regular condemnations of Ankara by Strasbourg''s European Court of Human Rights from 1996 to 2008, were examined the same week by CoE's Ministers, who decided to launch a fresh call "urging" the Turkish Authorities to end this dangerous "virtual Impunity" of criminals, without comparison to European countries.

- "Why not Ukraine, instead of Turkey ?", asked EuroFora a Journalist from "Kiev : the city where it's enough to cross the streets in order to realize that it's a European town", as Sarkozy recently said, before solemnly declaring this week, together with Ukranian President Jushenko and EU Commission's chair Baroso, EU's "recognition that Ukraine is a fully European Country, linked to Europe by culture and History".

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Europe's "Christian roots" and Values, with "openess and mutual respect" to other cultures and beliefs, were highlighted by Sarkozy in harmony with Benedict XVI.

The Human person should be protected "from his inception until his natural death", added the Pope, faithful to BioEthic principles defended by his predecessor and collaborator, John Paul II, of topical importance in France, Europe and the World today, as Sarkozy announced :

- "Fast and important progres in Genetic Science and procreation raise delicate BioEthical Questions to our Democracies", which "involve our view of Humans and Life, and can lead to Social Mutations. That's why they cannot remain only a business of experts", hestressed.

- "It's Politician's responsibility to set a proper framework for such Public Debates", as "France will do on BioEthics in 2009". "Religious and Philosophic traditions must take part, with their ideas and centuries' long experience : A positive Laicity is an open invitation to Dialogue", he said.

- "France engaged in Europe at another Debate on how to make Financial Capitalism more moral", and the "Social doctrine of the Church fits well what is at stake in modern Globalized Economy"

- "But, a "Real Dialogue is not for an elite of a Globalized world : It penetrates deep into the People : That's why Churches should actively participate : .. It's bringing New Oxygen to Public Debates", stressed Sarkozy.

- "Democracy must not be cut off Reason", which is "compatible with Faith", thanks to "the meeting between Christianism and Greek philosophy ", he added, referring to Pope's views. "It means to advance with logic arguments, search what's best and respect common principles of thinking :... It's an everyday need for Public Administration and the Political Debate", he added.
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Pope Benedict's 1st visit to France looked like the start of a brillant, manifold demonstration that this was well-founded and could become true in the lives of the People : After its Theoretical foundations unfolded at a "speech to the world of Culture", inaugurating Bernadins' cultural centre, and its dogmatic instrument shaped at an address to the Clergy in the Historic Notre Dame' Cathedral, he started to resolutely reach out to the People :

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The move went upwards like Bach's music : Begining with a call to more than fifteen thousand enthousiastic Youngsters gathered at Notre Dame's parvis with overnight celebrations, it gained strength in an impressive open-air Mass at Paris'central Invalides'area facing Alexander III's bridge, attended by more than 150.000 people, French Prime Minister Fillon, many Ministers, Foreign Ambassadors, etc, and culminated in a series of pan-European Mega-meetings at Lourdes 150th anniversary, together with all French Bishops, EU Commission's vice-Chairman Barrot, and some 200.000 enthousiastic People from all over Europe and beyond : After a Sea of Lights astonishingly braved Saturday Night's rain, an open-air mass at riverside fields among Pyrenees' Mountains Sunday Morning, was followed on Monday by a Sea of "Compassion" to those facing Health or Life threats, surrounded by an endless gathering of People, whose gigantic dimensions obviously surprised the organisers..

Meanwhile, Benedict had the occasion to speak to the French Priests at Notre Dame of Paris, and with the Bishops at Lourdes, where they prepare a crucial November plenary meeting, due to take important decisions on imminent EU debates and choices about Europe's identity, BioEthics, etc.
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- "A new way of thinking about Laicity has become necessary", agreed the Pope with President Sarkozy at Elysee. While keeping the "distinction between Politics and Religion, to guarantee Citizens' Liberty", "religion is important for shaping Consciousness and contributing, together with others, to create a basic Ethical Consensus in society".

- "Searching Essential realities", (as "God" for christians), needs "Speech : "Logos" in greek, i.e. Reason", "able to shape a Community","with creative work transforming Human History". But "Dialogue" is instrumental for "Reason", because it's the way to "search" for Truth", in "Liberty", according to Greek Platonic Philosophy, with Socrates' dialectics. "Reason" implies "Spirit and Liberty", hence the polyphonic "Music" of "Dialogue", in a responsible, "well balanced" way, to avoid "destruction".

Starting with a "Dialogue between christians and intellectual or artistic movements" highlighted at Bernardins' Cultural Center. with former Presidents Chirac and Giscard d'Estain, UNESCO's chair Anastassopoulos, etc., as well as representatives of Muslim Communities, (including a separate Turkish), after contacts with Jews at Vatican's Embassy, the Pope turned towards the People :

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To French Priests : "Church built on the rock" !
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- Speaking to thousands of French Priests at Notre Dame's Cathedral, Benedict highlighted a solid "Church built on the Rock" of conscious and active persons, transmitting "a lively, energetic and sharp" "God's Speech, actively working on Human History".

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"Praying together" with "representatives of Christian Churches and ecclesiastic communities", (as Orthodoxes, Armenians, Protestants, etc), he called "to reinforce the Unity of the church", against "any form of Division", around Holy Spirit', "the Word","Christ's Justice", and "Love" to fellow- humans : Essentials which "resume all holy scripts", as he said.

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To Young People : "New Horizons"
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To some 15.000 enthousiastic Young People at Notre Dame's parvis, along Seine's river, Benedict spoke about "the Energy of the Holy Spirit" and "the Mystery of the Cross" : - "The Holy Spirit opens New Horizons to Human Intelligence .. and makes it conscious of the real greatness of Christ's sacrifice, dying and resurecting for World's life".

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Some "may slander you as crazy, laugh at you, or even persecute you. But, "the Holy Cross is a symbol of God's love", and "givesmoral strength" : "Witness of People's pains, it's at the same time, a precious, unique expression of their Hopes", he told them at Paris' dawn.

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Invalides' plateau : "People chosen to become God's friends"
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At the 1st open-air Mass in Paris' center area of Invalides, facing the Grand Palais, along the river Seine, during an impressive gathering of more than 150.000, French Prime Minister Fillon, Ministers Alliot-Marie, Bachelot, Dati, Jouyet, Assembly's President Accoyer, Senate's Chair Poncelet, former 1st Lady Bernadette Chirac, former Prime Minister Raffarin, many foreign Ambassadors, and other political personalities were present. (While earlier, from the Socialist opposition, Paris' Mayor Delanoye, artist Robert Hussein a.o. assisted at the Elysee meeting).

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But the "Entry Song" focused on the "People chosen to become God's Friends". The September 11 mass was Dedicated to "Saint Chrysostomus, that great priest of Constantinople", with his "wonderful eloquence and great courage to face challenges", who "made out of despaired and godless people, a people of brothers", opening a possibility to "become all one complete entity", as Pope Benedict reminded.

- "Reason never enters in real contradiction with Faith", stressed Pope Benedict, who prepared his speeches for France during a short Summer rest at Brixen/Bressanone's Seminar, whose Library honors both "Faith and Science".. - "We must use not only our Reason, but also our Faith" : "Get away from Idolatry", "cupidity", "avidity for money, power or even knowledge deviating from essential aims", and other "falses appearances". and "build your Home on the Rock", "with the force that Holy Spirit gives to those who let it act in them", he said to the People of Paris.

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Benedict at Lourdes : - "Become Light (even) in the Dark !"
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- "Our World needs Hope", stressed Pope Benedict, addressing an impressive TorchLight procession at Lourdes' sanctuaries, where a Sea of Lights held by Hundreds of Thousands of People gathered at Pyrenee's Mountains from all over Europe astonishingly kept their flames despite a heavy Rain at a windy Dark Night...

- "150 years earlier (1858 - 2008), ..here, in the cave, ... a simple young girl, Bernadette .. saw a Light". "The everyday life of her Family was, however, made of Misery, Sadness, Sickness, Misunderstandings, Rejection and Poverty... It was hard to live in Jail". Today, "we think to all Human Beings who suffer : The innocent Victims who face Violence, War, Terrorism, Hunger, Injustices, Catastrophes, Hate and Oppression, Violations of Human Dignity and of their fundamental Rights, of their Liberty to act and think. We also think to those who face Familial problems, sufferings from Unemployment, Sickness, Infirmity, Isolation, or their situation as Immigrants, without forgetting those who suffer and die for the name of Christ", he said.

- "But the Shadows of the Earth, did not hinder Sky's Light to shine : <<The Light shines in the Dark>>" ..."A Way full of Light opens in Human History even in its Darkest moments" : ..."As Night falls, Christ tels us : <<- Keep your Lamps alight !>>."Hold a Light while walking in the Night .. sums up our condition as Christians on their way : "We need light, and we are called to become Light !", Benedict stressed to People setting in motion Lights, Flags and Songs with enthousiasm.

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"<<- She looked at me as a Person, who speaks to another Person>>, the poor girl had noted."Light emerges from such a Dialogue", stressed the Pope : "A small Flame called Hope, Compassion and Tenderness dwells inside those who return after being moved by Lourdes' experience". "Christ .. entrusts us with the Mission to let the Light of Charity shine : To make of our Prayers an Act of Love to our brothers and to Fraternal Charity", he concluded.

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(../..)

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