ZENIT reports that Pope Benedict XVI, in an address to seven new ambassadors on 13th December 2007, affirmed that Youth are a nation’s greatest resources and that their education should be an international priority.

Making reference to hope, the theme of his latest encyclical, “Spe Salvi,” the Pontiff encouraged those in public life and politics “to do everything in their power to restore hope to the peoples they have been entrusted to govern. May they bear in mind their peoples’ deepest aspirations and do what is necessary so that everyone may benefit from the natural and economic resources of his or her country, in accordance with the principles of justice and equity.”

Benedict XVI turned his attention to youth, calling them “a country’s greatest wealth.”  He continued: “Their integral education is a fundamental necessity. In fact, a technical and scientific training is not enough to fashion men and women who are responsible in their families and on every level of society. To reach this objective, one has to promote education based on human and moral values that enable each young person to trust in himself, to hope in the future, concerning themselves with their brothers and sisters, and taking on their roles in the development of the nation, with an ever increasing and acute sense of concern for others.

“For this reason I desire that, in every country, the education of youth may be a priority, with the help of international institutions involved in eradicating illiteracy and the lack of formation in all its forms. This is a particularly important way to combat the desperation that can take root in the hearts of young people, and provoke many individual or collective acts of violence.”

The Pope affirmed that the Church offers its support to educational endeavors, saying it “is unceasingly committed, alongside men and women of good will, on the frontlines of the field of integral formation of the young.”

He concluded offering his encouragement to “all people who participate in this beautiful mission of educating youth to continue tirelessly in their task, convinced that an adequate formation of youth prepares a promising tomorrow.”