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The Moral Order. It has been the historic hope of the church down through the ages to act as peacemaker between man and man, nation and nation. Today, the Pope noted, individuals are growing increasingly convinced of the need for mutual understanding and cooperation, but their leaders seem unable to understand one another. The reason, wrote John, is that "men, especially those more responsible, are inspired in the unfolding of their activity by different or radically opposed concepts of life. Unfortunately, in some of these concepts, the existence of the moral order is not recognized: an order which is transcendent, universal, absolute, equal and binding on all. Thus, they fail to meet and understand each other fully and openly in the light of one and the same law of justice, admitted and adhered to by all. Mutual trust among men and among states cannot begin or increase except by the recognition of and respect for the moral order."
*Papal encyclicals, written in Latin, are titled by their first two words.