Lest I be accused of undue pessimism, let me cite as a witness one who, of all men, is probably best equipped to express an opinion upon the moral state of the world. I refer to the venerable head of that religious organization[4] which, with its trained representatives in every part of the world, is probably better informed as to its spiritual state than any other organization.
[Footnote 4: Reference is to the late Pope Benedict.]
Speaking last Christmas Eve, in an address to the College of Cardinals, the venerable Pontiff gave expression to an estimate of present conditions which should have attracted far greater attention than it apparently did.
The Pope said that five plagues were now afflicting humanity.
The first was the unprecedented challenge to authority.
The second, an equally unprecedented hatred between man and man.
The third was the abnormal aversion to work.
The fourth, the excessive thirst for pleasure as the great aim of life.
The fifth, a gross materialism which denied the reality of the spiritual in human life.
The accuracy of this indictment will commend itself to men who like myself are not of Pope Benedict's communion.