Human rights are ‘fragile’ if ethical foundation ignored, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The foundation upon which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is based will remain fragile if its ethical and divine origins are ignored, Pope Benedict XVI said during a Vatican commemoration of the document’s 60th anniversary. While much has been done over the past decades to promote and safeguard human rights around the world, “hundreds of millions of our brothers and sisters still see their rights to life, liberty, and security threatened,” he said. The pope made his comments Dec. 10 during a Vatican celebration of the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the universal declaration by the United Nations General Assembly. The event, sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, included a concert by the Frankfurt Brandenburg State Orchestra, which was conducted by the Spanish composer, Inma Shara. Featuring works by Felix Mendelssohn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the musical event marked the first time a woman conducted a concert at the Vatican.