To Parliamentarians and Government Representatives

On Sunday, 8 September 1985, the Holy Father met with Parliamentarians and Government Representatives* at Vaduz (Liechtenstein), to whom he spoke of the right to life of the unborn.

Your Highness, Your Excellency,
Mr. Head of Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

1. With great interest I have followed the presentation that you, Mr. Head of Government, have just made to me on behalf of the State bodies and authorities of the Principality of Liechtenstein, in the presence of the Prince, his lieutenant, the Crown Prince, and their wives, as well as the Bishop of this diocese and other representatives of the Church. I thank you and all those on whose behalf you have expressed such noble words of welcome.

His presentation placed particular emphasis on the close relationship between the State and the Church in the Principality of Liechtenstein. The roots of this fact are to be found in the centuries-old history of Christianity in this country, which venerates as its patron Saint Lucius, one of the first apostles of the faith in Rhaetian territory. The Christianization of this area, which began in Roman times, in the valley of the Ill and near the upper reaches of the Rhine, continued uninterrupted in subsequent times.

The Christian faith has also produced rich fruits here, in various eras, and has left a strong mark on Christian art and religious traditions. Ecclesial life has been reinvigorated and still characterizes the social life of the country today. In more recent times, the presence of the princely family has taken on great significance in this regard. The House of Liechtenstein, which has always been of Catholic faith and has remained faithful to the Catholic Church, has always had close and positive relations with the Holy See. If one considers all this, it becomes understandable how the law, in the Principality of Liechtenstein, recognizes the Roman Catholic Church, as the national Church, as a special guardianship of the State, while ensuring freedom of religion and conscience for every person, guaranteeing religious practice also for other confessions, within the limits of morality and public order. I gladly take this opportunity to extend to all the non-Catholic citizens of this country a fraternal greeting of esteem and solidarity.

2. As the Successor of Peter, to whom Divine Providence has entrusted the pastoral care of all the Churches, I have come today on a pastoral visit to your beloved country, towards which you, as parliamentarians, members of the government and civil authorities, bear a great responsibility. Your task, so full of duties, is the fruit of the definition of the State Constitution, according to which the Principality of Liechtenstein is a constitutional hereditary monarchy founded on democracy and parliament and according to which political power is anchored to the prince and the people (Article 2 of the Constitution). However, your task has an even deeper foundation because, as it is said in the Letter to the Romans, "there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are established by God" ( Rom 13:1). This affirmation of the Apostle of the Gentiles, however, has unfortunately been shaken by so many negative experiences that have occurred in the course of history. Even today, many people exclude it, on principle, from any consideration.

Exactly one hundred years ago, in the year 1885, my venerable predecessor Pope Leo XIII , in his encyclical “ Immortale Dei ,” expressed some fundamental thoughts on the organization of the Christian state and in particular on the theological origin of political power. In it, he admonished statesmen to look above all to God and to his will, as the supreme ruler of the world.

I know that the problems to which a politician today must engage and find or impose solutions are very complex. I also see, however, that those responsible for the state and society, in the search for solutions to their problems, are always invariably referred back to historical, ethical and religious presuppositions. Above all, the Christian politician must maintain a fine sensitivity to all the fundamental conditions that form the basis of contemporary politics. His action must originate from a solid awareness of values ​​and responsibilities. He cannot leave aside his conscience, formed in the Christian faith and still in the process of forming, on every occasion of consultations and decisions. Especially today, in the context of different opinions and intentions, a very clear vision of principles is required of the faithful Christian who finds himself in a position of social leadership.

3. As the visible head of the Church of Christ, which possesses as its essential characteristics unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity, I am particularly obliged to raise my voice so that in all those places where the Church lives in its members, that which constitutes the essence of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic may shine forth among them. On the occasion of the Eucharistic celebration this morning this occurred in a singular way among us. The entire life of the faithful and the formation of their community must, however, always be involved and shaped by this characteristic.

At the beginning of my speech I mentioned the Christian tradition of this country and I sincerely hope that the men and women of Liechtenstein will continue to build on this precious and strong heritage. This is necessary to preserve the identity of this small popular community. The negative ideological influences to which even the men of this country are subjected today must not be allowed to undermine the morally healthy substance that guarantees a future full of hope and worthy of man.

4. Through international cooperation, particularly in view of the question of the security and future of Europe and, more generally, of the community of European countries, valuable contacts have recently been established between the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Holy See. Fortunately, these contacts have recently been solemnly confirmed in the form of official diplomatic relations. It is now our common task to make an effective contribution, according to our own strengths and capabilities, to achieve justice and peace in the world. With this commitment, the Church intends to respond to a vital need, which the Second Vatican Council - concluded twenty years ago - addresses in a separate chapter of the pastoral constitution Gaudium et spes under the title: "The promotion of peace and the building of the community of peoples". In this case he says: “Citizens should cultivate love for their country with magnanimity and loyalty, but without narrow-mindedness, that is, in such a way as to also simultaneously take into consideration and desire the good of the entire human family, which is united by every kind of bond between races, peoples and nations” ( Gaudium et spes , 75).

The entire human family, made up of the individual families of peoples, always has at its natural basis - however large it may be - the single family. The moral constitution of the human family is thus very closely linked to the religious and moral quality of individual families. Allow me to repeat it here too and to emphasize, in view of the moral integrity of the individual family and of the entire community, how crucial it is today to commit ourselves with the utmost determination to the defense of the principal moral values ​​of society, in particular for the protection of incipient human life. The Second Vatican Council speaks very clearly on this subject: "God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the lofty mission of protecting life, a mission which must be carried out in a humane way. Therefore life from the moment of conception must be protected with the greatest care, and abortion, like infanticide, is an abominable crime" ( Gaudium et Spes , 51).

5. The clear voice that the Church raises in defense of the weak and defenseless child must not go unheard; it is the voice of the child himself, whom God “has woven together in the womb of his mother,” as the Psalmist says (cf. Ps 139:13). No one can allow himself to wound this womb in a moral way; whoever does so wounds the womb of the family itself, the natural family as well as the family of peoples and the family of humanity. May the Principality of Liechtenstein, therefore, - on the moral foundation of its Christian heritage - do everything to protect and defend the value and dignity of human life in all its phases and in an effective way. The Charter of the Rights of the Family, presented by the Holy See in October 1983 to all persons, institutions and authorities who in any way have to do with the mission of the family in today's world, is to be understood as an indication "in favor of the family which must be encouraged and defended against every illegal attack" ("Charta der Familienrechte", Introd.).

The right to life of the unborn is one of those inalienable human rights, for the protection and defense of which your country has also committed itself in an exemplary manner throughout history, and especially in the more recent past, through many courageous and self-sacrificing initiatives. I recall the generous help given to refugees and the wounded of the last world war by the Liechtenstein Red Cross, the willing welcome of the persecuted, to whom you have granted hospitality within your borders and have permitted a new and safe existence. This is enough for the perpetual honor of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

May this courageous commitment to the dignity and rights of man of yesterday serve as an example to your people, and in particular to the leaders of this State, also today and in the future, and may it also guide them and commit them in their further decisions! This is my cordial wish and this I ask for you of the Lord and Judge of history and of all human destinies.

Ladies and gentlemen, I sincerely thank you for your esteemed presence and attention. May God, the Almighty, always accompany your responsible work in the service of the State and society with His blessing. May Mary, Queen of Peace, grant you, your loved ones and the people entrusted to you for your common service to the world in this “beloved homeland” her protection and maternal support.

* L'Osservatore Romano 10.10.1985 p.6.

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