ADDRESS OF PAUL VI
TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Saturday, 5 April 1975

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We first of all wish to thank you, the worthy representatives of the British Parliament, for your courtesy in coming to visit us today.

As the elected representatives of your people you bear a great responsibility before God and man. It is within your competence to make good laws, which acknowledge the inviolability and sacredness of man’s life in all its stages and the transcendental nature of his final destiny. May you be inspired with wisdom in the accomplishment of this task, and guided by the dictates of justice and equity. In this way the laws which you make will always be in accord with the Law of God, of which the Psalmist said: «Your decrees are so wonderful my soul cannot but respect them. As your word unfolds, it gives light, and the simple understand» (Ps. 118, 129-130).

We hope that your visit to Rome in this Holy Year may be a memorable one for you, and we gladly assure you of our prayers for yourselves, for your families and for the noble work to which you have been called. God bless you all.