Over the years the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (which has been part of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development since August 2016) has developed reflections on the most important events in international life in the light of the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
The following reflections on Trade, Development and Fight of Poverty were presented at the Seattle Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, in 1999; however, they deal with issues related to world trade whose importance goes beyond the specific discussions of the Conference.
"They are offered as a contribution to the search for new ways of strengthening a world system based on rules in which trade and development are placed at the service of the human community and especially of the fight against poverty. Although the observations made do not constitute a formal document of the Pontifical Council, I am very pleased to present them as a stimulus for reflection and to know of any reactions from readers in this regard". Msgr. Diarmuid Martin, Secretary