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>> we love you! [cheering] >> thank you. [cheering] announcer: on thursday, the pope made history by becoming the first pope to address congress. we will show you his meeting with speaker john boehner, his speech to congress, and his appearance on the capital balcony. this is just over one hour. >> [indistinct chatter]

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[cheering] [indistinct chatter] [indistinct chatter] >> your holiness, welcome.

we are really glad that you are here. >> [indiscernible] thank you. mr. boehner: good morning. good morning. [indiscernible]

>> thanks so much for the invitation. appreciate his holiness willing to come. [indiscernible]

mr. boehner: ok. nice to see all of you. thank you. >> [indistinct chatter] [applause]

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[applause] pope francis: mr. vice

speaker,, mr. honorable members of the i amess, dear friends, most grateful for the invitation to address this joint session of congress. free and thef the home of the brave. >> [applause] [applause] pope francis: i would like to this that the reason for is that i, too, am a son of this

great continent from which we much inays received so the world in which we share a common responsibility. -- of a given country has a social responsibility . nor responsibilities as member of congress is to enable -- your responsibility as a member of congress is to enable this country by legislative act of a -- activity. you are the face of these people. callede representatives to defend and preserve the

citizensf your fellow in this tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good. for this is the chief aim of all politics. endures whenociety it seeks to satisfy common needs. growth of all the its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk. activity should always take care for these people.

you have been invited, called by those who elect to. yours is a work which makes me reflect in two ways. on the one hand, the lawgiver of the people of israel symbolizes the need of people to keep alive by justnse of unity legislation. figure,ther, this .oses, leads us directly and that is the dignity of the human being.

>> [applause] moses provides us synthesis, to protect by means of the law the image and likeness of every human right. today, i would like not only to but through you the entire people of the united states. here with their representatives, i would like to take this opportunity to dialogue with the many thousands of men and women

who strive to each day to do a hard days work, to bring home money,ly bread, to save -- for their families. women who areand not concerned simply with paying their taxes, but in their own so is the life of society. -- sustain the life of society. >> [applause] generatecis: they solidarity by their actions, and organizations which

offer a helping hand to those most in need. to havealso like dialogue with the many elderly storehouse ofe a experience,ed by , toto seek in many ways share their insights. i know that many of them are retired, but still act of. i also want to dialogue with all aree young people who

working to the allies -- to and to face difficult oftentions, often -- through immaturity on the part of many others. dialogue with all of would like to do so through the historical memories of the old people. place at the time when men and women of goodwill

anniversary ofir several good americans. the complexity of history and the reality of human weakness notwithstanding, these men and women, for all their many ,ifferences and limitations were able to buy our work and self-sacrifice -- were able to buy our work and self sacrifice, some at the cost of their lives, to witness a better future. shared fundamental values, which in do or -- which endure for ever in this american system. people with disabilities can -- by always finding their

resources to move forward and to do so with dignity. us a men and women offer -- reality.g and for me the memory, we are inspired even amid conflicts and in the here and now of each day .o do our part four oflike to mention these americans.

, martin luther -- [indiscernible] >> [applause] pope francis: a future of freedom requires love of the common good, and cooperation in

a space of solidarity. quite aware of and disturbingied by the social and political situation of the world today. increasingly a place -- world is increasingly a place of violence. name ofd even in the gods and of religion. we know that no religion is immune from forms of individual -- tion or ideological this means that we must be

specially -- especially attentive to every type of fundamentally -- fundamental, whether religious or of any other kind. requirede balance is to combat violence, perpetrate in the name of our religion, an ideology or economic system while also safeguarding religious freedom, and individual reason. -- freedom. >> [applause] but there is another temptation, which we must especially guard against.

simplistic reductionism which sees only good or evil, or if you will, the righteous and sinners. wars with these open wounds which affect so many of our brothers and sisters demand that we confront every , which polarization two. divided without these -- [indiscernible] we cannot feed the enemy within.

the behavior of science and mothers is the best way to take the place. something that people project. >> [applause] our response must instead be one of hope and justice.of peace and asked to summon the courage and intention. to today'st economical and political --

[indiscernible] unjust subjects and agents. efforts must be the starting wrongs, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and peoples. as one in a forward renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously with the community. >> [applause] pope francis: the challenges

for a us today call renewal of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the united states. urgencylexity, and the thatese challenges demand we pool our resources and seek to and we saw -- support one another with respect for our differences and our convictions of conscience. >> [applause] pope francis: the various

religions of the nation's have greatly contributed to building and threatening society. today, asrtant that in the past, the voice of faith it isues to be heard, for a voice of fraternity and love which tries to bring out the and in each person society. powerfuleration is a resource to eliminate new global , born of greaty injustices which can be overcome

only through new policies and new forms of social conscious. instead an expression of our compelling tons to live as one in order build as one of the greatest common good. that of a community which sacrifices particular interests in order to share in justice and peace, it's goods, it's interests, it's social life did -- it's social life. i do not underestimate the

difficulty that this involves, but i encourage you in this effort. >> [applause] think ofcis: here i the march which martin luther king led from selma to , a part of the campaign to fill his dream of full citizen and political rights for african-americans. >> [applause] pope francis: that dream continues to inspire us all.

america happy that continues to be, for many, a land of dreams. >> [applause] [applause] pope francis: dreams which lead to actions, to participation, to commitment. what ishich awaken deepest and purest in the life of the people. centuries, millions of people came to this land to

pursue their dreams of building a future and freedom. people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners. because most of us -- >> [applause] use francis: because most of were once foreigners. >> [applause] [cheering] [applause] [applause] i say this to you as the son of immigrants, areing that so many of you

also descendents of immigrants. >> [applause] pope francis: tragically, the rise of those who were here long before us were not always respected. nationse people's under at the heart of american democracy, i wish to reaffirm my .ighest appreciation those first contacts were often turbulent and violent. that these very difficult -- it is very byficult to judge the past this criteria. >> [applause]

nonetheless, when a stranger in our midst appears to us, we must not repeat the sins of the past. >> [applause] we must resolve not to live as nobly as -- and as justly as possible. generations, new not to turn our back on our neighbors and everything around us. nation calls us to recognize that we must , rejecting alate

mindset of hostility in order to adopt one of reciprocal subsidiarity in a constant and i am do our best confident that we can do this. facing a refugee not seen magnitude since the second world war. this presents us with great challenges and many hard decisions. continent, persons have to travel north in search of a better life for themselves and

for their loved ones. in search of greater opportunity. not what we want for our own children. >> [applause] pope francis: we must not be taken a back by the numbers. but rather view them as persons. seeing their faces and listening -- >> [applause] pope francis: -- to their story. try to respond as yesterday can in those situations -- to respond as best we can in those situations in a way which is always remain, just, and -- always humane, just, and fraternal.

discuss whatever pose problems. rule: remember the golden do unto others as you -- >> [applause] [applause] pope francis: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. this rule points us in a clear otherson: let us treat with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated.

us take for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. go as we would like -- [indiscernible] want security,we let us get security. if we want life, let us give life. if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. the yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time uses for us. >> [applause]

pope francis: the golden will also -- rule also reminds us of our ability -- of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development. >> [applause] [applause] this conviction has led me from the beginning of my ministry to advocate at

different levels the global abolition of the death penalty. >> [applause] pope francis: i am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred. endowedman person is andh in undeniable -- society can only benefit from thosehabilitation of convicts of crime. bishops, my brother here in the united states renewed a call for the abolition of the penalty. >> [applause] pope francis: not only do i

offert them, but i also encouragement to all those who justonvinced that a punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation. >> [applause] pope francis: in these times, when social concerns are so , i cannot fail to mention what dorothy day, who , and socialmovement

activism, a passion for social -- ice, were inspired [indiscernible] -- at the example of the times. madeuch progress has been in this area and so many parts of the world. thisuch has been done in first years of the millennium to raise people out of extreme poverty? that much more needs to crisis, and in times of and economic hardships, a global

solidarity must not be lost. time, i would mindrage you to keep in all those people around us who are stuck in a cycle of poverty. they, too, need to see the hope. a fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and in all forms, especially in schools. americans today are working to deal with this problem. saying thatout

andt is the creation distribution of wealth, the ,ight use of natural resources the proper application of harnessing of the enterprise are essential whichts of an economy to be inclusive and sustainable. >> [applause] pope francis: business is a that produces wealth and builds the world. source of prosperity

from the area in which it operates, especially if it seeks the creation of jobs as an essential part of its service to the common good. >> [applause] pope francis: this common good also includes the earth. the cycletheme of in order toent enter into the dialogue with good people about our common home. we need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are

its human roots concern and affect all. >> [applause] pope francis: i call for a redirects effort to our steps and to address the most salient effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity. i am convinced that we can make a difference. i'm sure. >> [applause] [applause]

pope francis: and i have no doubt that the united states and this congress have an important role to play. now is the time for courageous action. implementing a culture of care and an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring and at the same time protecting nature. [applause]

we have the freedom needed to limit and direct technology, to devise intelligent ways of developing and limiting our power, and to put technology at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral. in this regard, i am confident that america's outstanding academic and research institutions can make a vital contribution in the years ahead. a century ago, at the beginning of the great war, which pope benedict xv termed a pointless slaughter, another notable american was born, the cistercian monk thomas merton. he remains a source of spiritual inspiration and a guide for many people. in his autobiography he wrote, i came into the world. free by nature, in the image of god, i was nevertheless the prisoner of my own violence and my own selfishness, in the image of the world into which i was born.

a century ago, at the beginning of the great war, which pope benedict xv termed a pointless slaughter, another notable american was born, the cistercian monk thomas merton. he remains a source of spiritual inspiration and a guide for many people. in his autobiography he wrote, i came into the world. free by nature, in the image of god, i was nevertheless the

prisoner of my own violence and my own selfishness, in the image of the world into which i was born. that world was the picture of hell, full of men like myself, loving god, and yet hating him. born to love him, living instead in fear of hopeless self-contradictory hungers. merton was above all a man of prayer, a thinker who challenged the certitudes of his time and opened new horizons for souls and for the church. he was also a man of dialogue, a promoter of peace between peoples and religions. from this perspective of dialogue, i would like to recognize the efforts made in recent months to help overcome historic differences linked to

painful episodes of the past. it is my duty to build bridges and to help all men and women, in any way possible, to do the same.

when countries which have been at odds resume the path of dialogue -- a dialogue which may have been interrupted for the most legitimate of reasons -- new opportunities open up for all. [applause] this has required, and requires, courage and daring, which is not the same as irresponsibility. a good political leader is one who, with the interests of all in mind, seizes the moment in a spirit of openness and pragmatism. a good political leader always opts to initiate processes rather than possessing spaces. being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world.

here we have to ask ourselves: why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money:

money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. in the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our

duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade. three sons and a daughter of this land, four individuals and four dreams: lincoln, liberty; martin luther king, liberty in plurality and non-exclusion; dorothy day, social justice and the rights of persons; and thomas merton, the capacity for dialogue and openness to god.

four representatives of the american people. i will end my visit to your country in philadelphia, where i will take part in the world meeting of families.

it is my wish that throughout my visit the family should be a recurrent theme. how essential the family has been to the building of this country. and how worthy it remains of our support and encouragement. yet i cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without.

fundamental relations have been called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family. i can only reiterate the importance and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life. in particular, i would like to call attention to those family members who are the most vulnerable, the young. for many of them, a future filled with countless possibilities beckons, yet so many others seem disoriented and aimless, trapped in a hopeless maze of violence, abuse and despair. their problems are our problems. [applause] we cannot avoid them. we need to face them together, to talk about them and to seek effective solutions rather than getting bogged down in discussions. at the risk of oversimplifying,

we might say that we live in a culture which pressures young people not to start a family, because they lack possibilities for the future. yet this same culture presents others with so many options that they too are dissuaded from starting a family. a nation can be considered great when it defends liberty as lincoln did, when it fosters a culture which enables people to "dream" of full rights for all their brothers and sisters, as martin luther king sought to do; when it strives for justice and the cause of the oppressed, as dorothy day did by her tireless work, the fruit of her faith, which becomes dialogue and sows peace in the contell -- in the contemplative style of thomas herton.

-- merton. in these remarks i have sought to present some of the richness of your cultural heritage, of the spirit of the american people. it is my desire that this spirit continue to develop and grow, so that as many young people as possible can inherit and dwell in a land which has inspired so many people to dream. god bless america! [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015]

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[cheers and applause] pope francis: i am so grateful for your presence here. the most important ones here -- children.

i'll ask god to bless them. father of all, bless these, bless each of them, bless the families. bless them all. and i ask you all, please, to

pray for me, and if there are among you who do not believe or cannot pray, i ask you please to send good wishes my way. thank you, thank you very much. and god bless america. [applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause]

>> the pope in new york city spoke before the united nations general assembly discussing the iran nuclear agreement and climate change. this is just over an hour.

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>> the meeting of the general assembly is called to order. this morning we shall hear an address by his holiness, pope francis on the occasion of his visit to the united nations. your holiness, heads of state and governments, mr. secretary general, excellences, ladies and gentlemen, it's my great honor to welcome you.

pope francis, issuer of rome, to the general assembly of the united nations, as head of the roman catholic church and as a defender of the dignity of humanity and the life support systems of our planet. when you recall previously how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitments to society and peace, you spoke directly to the three pillars of the united nations and to the interdependency and interconnectedness between those three pillars. that is the message at the heart of the new and very ambitious agenda of sustainability development. here we confront the injustices of poverty, and discrimination.

we recognize the need to reduce inequalities and to protect our common home by changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production. and we identify the overwhelming need to address the politics of division, corruption and irresponsibility that fuel conflict and hold back development. as your holiness has stated, we are indeed united by the same concern. in two months' time, at the climate conference in paris, that unity will be tested. we can and we must find the wisdom and courage to adopt an ambitious climate agreement to protect people and the planet. similar urgency and unity is required to bring an end to the conflicts and violent extremism affecting many parts of the

world today. to date, our collective response to the crisis and to the plight on millions of displaced peoples and refugees have been at best inadequate and at worst a failure of our humanity. the need for this great hall to address these crises with leadership and action, in the spirit of solidarity, dialogue and tolerance, cannot be overstated. therefore, we are looking forward so much to listening to your holiness' address to the general assembly of the united nations. i welcome you once again.

and i now give the floor to the secretary general of the united nations, his excellency, ban ki-moon. secretary general ban ki-moon: your excellency, president of the general assembly, distinguished heads of state and government, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. [speaking spanish] welcome to the united nations. for those of us who are part of the united nations this is a sacred space. from no other platform can a leader speak to all of humanity , and for decades, that's precisely what world leaders have done.

kings and queens, presidents, prime ministers, and popes. put member in our -- but never in our history as the united nations been honored to welcome a pope for the opening of the general assembly. and never in papal history has the head of the catholic church addressed such an array of world leaders. your holiness, thank you for making history. [applause]

thank you for demonstrating yet again your remarkable global stature as a man of faith for all faiths. your motto is, lowly but chosen, and you strive every day to include the excluded. you're at home not in palaces but among the poor. not with the famous but with the forgotten. not in official portraits but in selfies with young people. [applause] like the united nations, you are driven by a passion to help others. your views move millions. your teachings bring action. your example inspires us all.

your visit today coincides with our introduction of the agenda for sustainable government, but that is no coincidence. you have often spoken of an integral ecology, one that encompasses the environment, economic growth, social justice, and human well being. sustainable development for our common home. you define climate change as a principal challenge facing humanity and a moral issue. this message is critical as we approach the climate change conference in paris in december. across the global agenda, his holiness is a resounding voice of conscience. he has cried out for compassion

for the world's refugees and migrants and solidarity with people trapped in poverty. he lifts up struggling families. he met with the full leadership of the united nations at the vatican. empty reaches different communities. -- and he reaches different communities. he found that we must mobilize the world beyond religious or political differences to forge a shared vision, a life of dignity for all. on the first page of his recent encyclical, pope francis said, i quote, i wish to address every

person living on this planet, end quote. your holiness welcome, we are , here to listen. thank you very much. [applause] >> i thank the gentleman for his statement and on behalf of the general assembly, i once again welcome pope francis to this hall and i invite him to address the general assembly. [applause] pope francis:[speaking spanish] [speaking spanish] mr. president, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your kind words.

once again, following a tradition by which i feel honored, the secretary general of the united nations has invited the pope to address this distinguished assembly of nations. in my own name, and that of the [speaking spanish]

mr. president, ladies and [speaking spanish]

apparently to overcome all natural limits to the exercise of power. an essential response in this much technological power in the hands of nationalistic or falsely universalist ideologies is capable of perpetrating tremendous atrocities. i can only reiterate the appreciation expressed by my predecessors, in reaffirming the importance which the catholic church attaches to this institution and the hope which she places in its activities. the history of this organized community of states, represented by the united nations which is presently celebrating its 70th anniversary, is one of important common achievement.

over a period of unusually fast-paced changes. without claiming to be exhaustive, we can mention the codification and development of international law, the establishment of international norms regarding human rights, advances in humanitarian law,

the resolution of numerous conflicts, operations of peace-keeping and reconciliation, and any number of other accomplishments in every area of international activity and endeavor. all these achievements are lights which help to dispel the darkness of the disorder caused by unrestrained ambitions and collective forms of selfishness. certainly, many grave problems remain to be resolved, yet it is clear that, without all those interventions on the international level, mankind would not have been able to survive the unchecked use of its own possibilities. every one of these political, juridical and technical advances is a path towards attaining the ideal of human fraternity and a means for its greater realization. for this reason i pay homage to

all those men and women whose loyalty and self-sacrifice have benefitted humanity as a whole in these past 70 years. in particular, today i would like to recall those who have given their lives for peace and reconciliation among peoples. from dag hammarskjold to the many united nations officials at every level who have been killed in the course of humanitarian missions, and missions of peace and reconciliation. the experience of the past 70 years, beyond all these achievements, has made it clear

that reform and adaptation to the times is always necessary. in the pursuit of the ultimate goal of granting all countries, without objection exception, a share in and a genuine and equitable influence on decision making processes. the need for greater equity is especially true in the case of those bodies with effective executive capability, such as the security council, the financial agencies and the groups or mechanisms specifically created to deal with economic crises. this will help limit every kind of abuse or usury, especially where developing countries are concerned. the international financial agencies should care for the sustainable development of countries and should ensure that

they are not subjected to oppressive lending systems which -- [applause] so the international financial agencies should care for the sustainable development of countries and should ensure that

they are not subjected to oppressive lending systems which, far from promoting progress, subject people to mechanisms which generate greater poverty, exclusion, and dependence. the work of the united nations, according to the principles set forth in the preamble and the first articles of its founding

charter, can be seen as the development and promotion of the rule of law, based on the realization that justice is an essential condition for achieving the ideal of universal fraternity. in this context, it is helpful to recall that the limitation of power is an idea implicit in the concept of law itself. to give to each his own, to cite the classic definition of justice, means that no human individual or group can consider itself absolute, permitted to bypass the dignity and the rights of other individuals or their social groupings. [applause] the effective distribution of power, political, economic, defense-related, technological, etc., among a plurality of subjects and the creation of a juridical system for regulating

claims and interests, are one concrete way of limiting power. yet today's world presents us with many false rights and -- at the same time -- broad sectors which are vulnerable, victims of power badly exercised. for example, the natural environment and the vast ranks of men and women who are excluded. these sectors are closely interconnected and made increasingly fragile by the dominant political and economic relationships. that is why their rights must be forcefully affirmed, by working to protect the environment and by putting an end to exclusion. [applause] first, it must be stated that a true right of the environment

does exist, and for two reasons. first, because we human beings are parking lot of the -- part of the environment, we live in communion with it. since the environment itself entails ethical limits which human activity must acknowledge and respect. man, for all his remarkable gifts which are signs of a uniqueness which transcends the spheres of physics and biology, is at the same time a part of these spheres.

he possesses a body shaped by physical, chemical, and buy y -- dialogical -- biological

elements, and can only survive and develop if the ecological environment is favorable. any harm done to the environment, therefore, is harm to humanity. second, because every creature, particularly a living creature, has an intrinsic value. in its existence, its life, its beauty and its interdependence with other christians. -- with other creatures. we christians, together with the other monotheistic religions, believe that the universe is the fruit of a loving decision by the creator, who permits man respectfully to use creation for the good of his fellow men and for the glory of the creator. but he is not authorized to abuse it, much less is he authorized to destroy it. [applause] in all religions, the environment is a fundamental good. the misuse and destruction of the environment are also accompanied by a relentless process of exclusion.

in effect, a selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged, either because they are differently abled, handicapped, or because they lack adequate information and technical expertise, or are incapable of decisive political action. economic and social exclusion is a complete denial of human fraternity and a grave offense against human rights and the environment.

the poorest are those who suffer most from such offenses, for three serious reasons. they are cast off by society, forced to live off what is discarded and to suffer unjustly from the consequences of the abuse of the environment. these phenomena are part of today's widespread and quietly growing culture of waste. [applause] the dramatic reality of this whole situation of exclusion and inequality, with its evident effects, has led me, in union

with the entire christian people and many others, to take stock of my grave responsibility in this regard and to speak out, together with all those who are seeking urgently-needed and effective solutions. the adoption of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development at the world summit, which opens today, is an important sign of hope. i am similarly confident that the paris conference on climatic change will secure fundamental and effective agreements.

solemn commitments, however, are not enough, even though they are a necessary step toward solutions. the classic definition of justice which i mentioned earlier contains as one of its essential elements a constant and perpetual will -- iustitia est constans et perpetua voluntas ius sum cuique tribuendi. our world demands of all government leaders a will which is effective, practical, constant, with concrete steps and immediate measures for preserving and improving the

natural environment and thus putting an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon of social and economic exclusion. with its baneful consequences of human trafficking, the marketing of human organs and tissues, the sexual exploitation of boys and girls, slave labor, including prostitution, the drug and weapons trade, terrorism, and international organized crime. [applause] such is the magnitude of these situations and their toll in innocent lives, that we must avoid every temptation to fall into a declarationist nominalism

which would just assuage our own consciences. [applause] we need to ensure that our institutions are truly effective in the struggle against all of these scourges. the number and complexity of the problems require that we possess technical instruments of

verification. but this involves two risks. we can rest content with the bureaucratic exercise of drawing up long lists of good proposals -- goals, objectives and statistical indicators -- or we can think that a single , theoretical and aprioristic solution will provide an answer to all the challenges. it must never be forgotten that political and economic activity is only effective when it is understood as a prudential activity, guided by a perennial concept of justice and consciously conscious of the fact that, above and beyond our

plans and programs, we are dealing with real men and women who live, struggle, and suffer, and are often forced to live in great poverty, and deprived of all rights. [applause] to enable these real men and women to escape from extreme poverty, we must allow them to be dignified agents of their own destiny. integral human development and the full exercise of human dignity cannot be imposed. they must be built up and allowed to unfold for each individual, for every family, in communion with others, and in a right relationship with all those areas in which human social life develops -- friends, communities, towns and cities,

schools, businesses and unions, provinces and nations. now, this proposes the right to education, also for girls who are excluded in certain places. [applause] the right to education which is ensured first and foremost by respecting and reinforcing the primary right of the family to educate its children as well as the right of churches and social groups to support and assist

families in the education of their boys and girls. education conceived in this way is the basis for the implementation of the 2030 agenda and for reclaiming the environment. [applause] at the same time, government leaders must do everything possible to ensure that all can have the minimum spiritual and material means needed to live in dignity and to create and support a family, which is the primary cell of any social development. [applause] in practical terms, this absolute minimum has three games

-- lodging, labor, and land. [applause] and one spiritual name, spiritual freedom, which includes religious freedom, the right to education and all other civil rights. [applause] for all this, the simplest and best measure and indicator of the implementation of the new agenda for development will be effective, practical and immediate access, on the part of all, to essential material and spiritual goods -- housing, dignified and properly remunerated employment, adequate

food and drinking water, religious freedom, and more generally, spiritual freedom and education. these pillars of integral human development have a common foundation and this is the right to life and more generally what we could call the right to existence of human nature itself. [applause] the ecological crisis, and the large-scale destruction of biodiversity, can threaten the very existence of the human species. the baneful consequences of irresponsible mismanagement of the global economy, guided only

by the ambition for wealth and power, must serve as a summons to a forthright reflection on man. man is not only a freedom which he creates for himself. man does not create himself. he is spirit and will but also nature. creation is compromised where we ourselves have the final word. the misuse of creation begins when we no longer recognize any instance above ourselves, when we see nothing else but ourselves. consequently, the defense of the

environment and the fight against exclusion demand that we recognize a moral law written into human nature itself, one which includes the natural difference between man and woman, and absolute respect for life in all its stages and dimensions. [applause] without the recognition of certain incontestable natural ethical limits and without the immediate implementation of those pillars of integral human development, the ideal of saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war and of promoting