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EXCERPTS FROM POPE JOHN XXIII ENCYCLICAL Pacem
in terris ON
ESTABLISHING UNIVERSAL PEACE IN TRUTH, APRIL
11, 1963 The Right to
Emigrate and Immigrate 25. Again, every human being has the right to freedom of movement and of residence within the confines of his own State. When there are just reasons in favor of it, he must be permitted to emigrate to other countries and take up residence there.22 The fact that he is a citizen of a particular State does not deprive him of membership in the human family, nor of citizenship in that universal society, the common, world-wide fellowship of men. The Treatment
of Minorities 94. A special
instance of this clash of interests is furnished by that political trend
(which since the nineteenth century has become widespread throughout the
world and has gained in strength) as a result of which men of similar
ethnic background are anxious for political autonomy and unification into
a single nation. For many reasons this cannot always be effected, and
consequently minority peoples are often obliged to live within the
territories of a nation of a different ethnic origin. This situation gives
rise to serious problems. 95. It is quite
clear that any attempt to check the vitality and growth of these ethnic
minorities is a flagrant violation of justice; the more so if such
perverse efforts are aimed at their very extinction . 96. Indeed, the
best interests of justice are served by those public authorities who do
all they can to improve the human conditions of the members of these
minority groups, especially in what concerns their language, culture,
ancient traditions, and their economic activity and enterprise.57 A Cautionary
Note 97. It is worth
noting, however, that these minority groups, in reaction, perhaps, to the
enforced hardships of their present situation, or to historical
circumstances, frequently tend to magnify unduly characteristics proper to
their own people. They even rate them above those human values which are
common to all mankind, as though the good of the entire human family
should subserve the interests of their own particular groups. A more
reasonable attitude for such people to adopt would be to recognize the
advantages, too, which accrue to them from their own special situation.
They should realize that their constant association with a people steeped
in a different civilization from their own has no small part to play in
the development of their own particular genius and spirit. Little by
little they can absorb into their very being those virtues which
characterize the other nation. But for this to happen these minority
groups must enter into some kind of association with the people in whose
midst they are living, and learn to share their customs and way of life.
It will never happen if they sow seeds of disaffection which can only
produce a harvest of evils, stifling the political development of nations.
The Proper
Balance Between Population, Land and Capital 101. As everyone
is well aware, there are some countries where there is an imbalance
between the amount of arable land and the number of inhabitants; others
where there is an imbalance between the richness of the resources and the
instruments of agriculture available. It is imperative, therefore, that
nations enter into collaboration with each other, and facilitate the
circulation of goods, capital and manpower.58 102. We advocate
in such cases the policy of bringing the work to the workers, wherever
possible, rather than bringing workers to the scene of the work. In this
way many people will be afforded an opportunity of increasing their
resources without being exposed to the painful necessity of uprooting
themselves from their own homes, settling in a strange environment, and
forming new social contacts. The Problem
of Political Refugees 103. The deep
feelings of paternal love for all mankind which God has implanted in Our
heart makes it impossible for Us to view without bitter anguish of spirit
the plight of those who for political reasons have been exiled from their
own homelands. There are great numbers of such refugees at the present
time, and many are the sufferings-the incredible sufferings-to which they
are constantly exposed. 104. Here surely
is our proof that, in defining the scope of a just freedom within which
individual citizens may live lives worthy of their human dignity, the
rulers of some nations have been far too restrictive. Sometimes in States
of this kind the very right to freedom is called in question, and even
flatly denied. We have here a complete reversal of the right order of
society, for the whole raison d'etre of public authority is to safeguard
the interests of the community. Its sovereign duty is to recognize the
noble realm of freedom and protect its rights. The Refugee's
Rights 105. For this
reason, it is not irrelevant to draw the attention of the world to the
fact that these refugees are persons and all their rights as persons must
be recognized. Refugees cannot lose these rights simply because they are
deprived of citizenship of their own States. 106. And among
man's personal rights we must include his right to enter a country in
which he hopes to be able to provide more fittingly for himself and his
dependents. It is therefore the duty of State officials to accept such
immigrants and-so far as the good of their own community, rightly
understood, permits-to further the aims of those who may wish to become
members of a new society. Commendable
Efforts 107. We
therefore take this opportunity of giving Our public approval and
commendation to every undertaking, founded on the principles of human
solidarity or of Christian charity, which aims at relieving the distress
of those who are compelled to emigrate from their own country to another. 108. And We must
indeed single out for the praise of all right-minded men those
international agencies which devote all their energies to this most
important work. |