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 Message on the occasion of the 3th International Day of Literacy*

On the occasion of the third Literacy Day and especially in view of this International Education Year, We take pleasure in telling you once more that the Catholic Church is resolved to joy in efforts, in collaboration with your Organization, aimed at eradicating illiteracy.

The great concern of the present Decade continues to be the aim of dissolving inequalities in distribution of cultural and economic wealth, so as to ensure the ways of justice and peace. To this end, the Catholic Church in various parts of the world is going ahead with setting up new centres of functional alphabetisation, with modest means and in collaboration with Governments; it is developing existing centres, and is training staff with a view to attaining an harmonious relation between education and the needs of peoples. In recent months the staff of the "Human Development" Committee which We set up in 12 March 1969 within the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace, has been increased, so as to enable the Committee to expand its work of encouraging and inspiring Churches in the Third World in matters to do with Development, and particularly with teaching adults to read and write.

We hope that the present celebration shall give rise to fresh vigor and lead to closer cooperation with the various UNESCO Commissions, to the benefit of the integral development of mankind.

And so with a full heart We call down abundance of divine blessings upon the workers in this great work of peace.

From the Vatican, 4 September 1970

PAUL PP. VI


*ORa n.39 p.9.

 



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