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Books by Francis Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận

8 "beatitudes for politicians"

How faith survived in a Communist prison

Words of introduction at Day of Prayer for Peace in the World

Preface to The Social Agenda

Eight "beatitudes for politicians"

Cardinal Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who is president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, proposed the moral guidelines on May 3 at a conference in the northern Italian city of Padua.

Echoing the eight beatitudes preached by Christ in his Sermon on the Mount, Cardinal Thuan said politi-cians needed a similar set of rules that leave room for the faith in their profession:

1. Blessed the politician who well understands his role in the world.
2. Blessed the politician who personally exemplifies credibility.
3. Blessed the politician who works for the common good and not for his own interests.
4. Blessed the politician who is true to himself, his faith and his electoral promises.
5. Blessed the politician who works for unity and makes Jesus the fulcrum of its defence.
6. Blessed the politician who works for radical change, refusing to call good that which is evil and using the Gospel as a guide.
7. Blessed the politician who listens to the people before, during and after the elections, and who listens to God in prayers.
8. Blessed the politician who has no fear of the truth or the mass media, because at the time of judgment he will answer only to God, not the media.