Pope Calls for Nuclear Disarmament

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy July 28th: Pope Benedict XVI called Sunday for nuclear disarmament, saying nuclear technology must be used instead to promote development in the respect of the environment. Speaking from Castel Gandolfo, his summer retreat in the hills south of Rome, Benedict also issued an appeal for the release of Korean hostages held in Afghanistan, saying their abduction represented «a grave violation of human dignity. «I issue my appeal so that the perpetrators of such criminal acts desist from the evil they have carried out and give back their victims unharmed,» the pope said.

The 22 Korean held hostage in Afghanistan were seized on July 19. Originally there were 23 captives, but one has been shot dead. Benedict delivered his traditional Sunday prayer to hundreds of cheerful pilgrims gathered underneath the window of his palace in Castel Gandolfo. He moved there on Friday, after spending about three weeks in the Italian Alps. The pontiff called for "encouraging the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, promoting a progressive and agreed-upon nuclear disarmament and encouraging the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technology with the aim of a real development". He said such development must respect the environment and be attentive to the needs of the poorest populations. Benedict said commitment to these objectives was increasingly urgent and added: "I wish that the efforts of those who work with determination to reach these goals can be successful".

With his remarks, the pope marked the 50th anniversary since the statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, entered into force. The Holy See is a member of the organization and supports its activities, the pope said.
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