1032 Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale

also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at

every stage of its development.

This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to ad-

vocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am

convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human

person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit

from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. Recently my brother

bishops here in the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the

death penalty. Not only do I support them, but I also offer encouragement

to all those who are convinced that a just and necessary punishment must

never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.

In these times when social concerns are so important, I cannot fail to

mention the Servant of God Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker

Movement. Her social activism, her passion for justice and for the cause

of the oppressed, were inspired by the Gospel, her faith, and the example

of the saints.

How much progress has been made in this area in so many parts of

the world! How much has been done in these first years of the third mil-

lennium to raise people out of extreme poverty! I know that you share my

conviction that much more still needs to be done, and that in times of crisis

and economic hardship a spirit of global solidarity must not be lost. At the

same time I would encourage you to keep in mind all those people around

us who are trapped in a cycle of poverty. They too need to be given hope.

The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on

many fronts, especially in its causes. I know that many Americans today,

as in the past, are working to deal with this problem.

It goes without saying that part of this great effort is the creation and

distribution of wealth. The right use of natural resources, the proper ap-

plication of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are

essential elements of an economy which seeks to be modern, inclusive and

sustainable. "Business is a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and

improving the world. It can be a fruitful source of prosperity for the area

in which it operates, especially if it sees the creation of jobs as an essential

part of its service to the common good".3 This common good also includes

3 Laudato Si', 129.