Human Rights

Pope Shenouda III discusses human rights and freedom, explaining that the fundamental rights recognized by the United Nations are, in their essence, consistent with Christian principles. God created human beings free and in His image, giving them dignity and freedom of will.

However, freedom does not mean absolute freedom without limits. A person must exercise his freedom responsibly, without violating the freedom or rights of others. True freedom respects the dignity and freedom of every human being.

Pope Shenouda also emphasizes that true spiritual freedom begins within. A person must become free from sin, harmful desires, and bad habits. Whoever is free within cannot easily be enslaved from the outside. Therefore, Christian freedom is rational, responsible, and respectful of others.

He further stresses the importance of defending the oppressed and respecting the rights of individuals, peoples, and humanity as a whole. Respecting human rights means not only refraining from harming others, but also standing up for those whose rights have been violated.

The message concludes with a call for human rights to become part of every person’s conscience, leading to mutual respect, equality, and equal opportunities, because all people

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