Pope Encyclical Mandates Charity

Pope Encyclical Mandates Charity: "Pope Encyclical Mandates Charity

By NICOLE WINFIELD
The Associated Press
Wednesday, January 25, 2006; 9:54 AM

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday in his first encyclical that the Roman Catholic Church has no desire to govern states or set public policy, but can't remain silent when its charity is needed to ease suffering around the world.

In the long-awaited document 'God is Love,' Benedict explores the relationship between God's love for mankind and the church's works of charity, saying the two are intrinsically linked and the foundation of the Christian faith."