"Millions of men, women and children are threatened with never enjoying good health, with never being able to 1 ive with digni tv from their work, with never receiving the education which will develop their minds, with seeing their environment become hostile and sterile, with losing the wealth of their ancestral patrimony, all the while being dePrived of the positive supoorts of science and technoloQV." The economic, social and human costs of external indebtedness, in particular, have brought whole countries to the bri rk of breakdown. Neither the creditor countries nor the debtor countries have anything to qain from situations of despair that would be uncontrollable. Justice and the interests of all demand that remedies should be found, taking into account not just the economic and monetary aspects of such situations but also their political, social and human dimensions. On the specific question of indebtedness, which so many of the speakers at this special session have addressed, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace produced, on 27 December 1986, a document entitled "At the Service of the Human Community: An Ethical Approach to the International Debt Question", later published also as an official Cbcument of the United Nations General Assembly, document A/42/157, of 27 February 1987. One hoPes that the ethical reflections contained in that document will continue to quide creditor and debtor countries in their search for a just soluticn to the qrave problem. Pope John Paul II has not hesitated to call "attitudes of sin" the all-consuming desire for profit and the thirst for power, which can tempt individuals as well as nations to seek their advantage "at any price", disregarding basic obligations of equity and solidari tv. BHS/PLJ A/S-18/PV. 8 157 (Archbishop Martino, Holy See) In the early part of this year, Pope John Paul II made a pastoral visit to 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the consequences of external indebtedness on countries, highlighting the economic, social, and human costs. It also touches on the importance of finding a just solution to the debt problem, considering the ethical and human dimensions. The text does not specifically focus on a particular industry or sector, but rather on the broader implications of debt on society.

**Category**
Economic development, Humanitarian aid and relief