Rome - As humanity moves into the new century, the one issue which most challenges human and Christian consciences is the poverty of countless millions of men and women, according to Pope John Paul II in his message for the World Day of Peace on January 1st, 2000, Paddy Agnew writes from Rome.
The message was presented in the Vatican yesterday by Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan and by the Bishop of Glendalough, Dr Diarmuid Martin, president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and represents a hard-hitting summary of the concerns and preoccupations of Pope John Paul's social teachings on the eve of the new millennium.