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LETTER OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II
TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF UNESCO
ON THE OCCASION OF THE WORLD LITERACY DAY 1985
*
 


 
 
On the occasion of the Nineteenth international Literacy Day, I gladly express to you the wishes which the Holy See continues to form that access to instruction may be furthered throughout the world. This in itself remains one of the fundamental benefits of human civilization and it opens the door to development of the mind, to a sharing of the cultural goods and of the various functions which will ensure economic growth and social progress tomorrow, from the insertion of the young generations. As I wrote to you on the occasion of the World Youth Congress at Barcelona, and in accordance with the message which I addressed to all the young in the year which is devoted to them, the Church wishes above all that the spread of knowledge and intellectual participation in the cultural heritage of each nation and of the entire human community should be the work of competent, clear‑sighted and conscientious educators, preparing the young to reach a knowledge that frees man, to research the truth in its various dimensions ;n order to live it, to build their personality in conformity with the dignity and the greatness that are proper to man in accordance with the personal and social ethical standard which guarantee this dignity, community participation and openness to the spiritual values. I ask God to inspire and to help the members of UNESCO, the public authorities and those at intermediary levels, so that this educative task may be ever better ensured with regard to those who are still deprived, children, the young, adults, men and women of every race and condition.
 


*L'Osservatore Romano. Weekly Edition in English n.37 p.4. 



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