"While a part of humanity lives in opulence, another part sees their dignity denied, ignored or infringed upon and their fundamental rights ignored or violated," he said.

Such a contradiction leads one to ask "whether the equal dignity of all human beings – solemnly proclaimed 70 years ago – is truly recognized, respected, protected and promoted in every circumstance," he said in a written message.

The message was read aloud by Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, at a Dec. 10-11 conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University discussing the "achievements, omissions and negations" in the world of human rights today.

In his message, Pope Francis said, "numerous forms of injustice" still exist in the world today, which seems to have no qualms about exploiting, rejecting and even killing human beings.

Those whose basic human rights continue to be violated, he said, include: the unborn, who are "denied the right to come into the world"; those who lack the necessary means to live a decent life; those who are denied an adequate education; those who lack work or are forced to work in slave-like conditions; those who are detained in inhumane conditions, who are tortured or are denied the possibility of redeeming their lives; and victims of "forced disappearances" and their families.

In addition, he said, there are those who live "in an atmosphere dominated by suspicion and disdain, who are the targets of acts of intolerance, discrimination and violence because of their race, ethnicity, nationality or religion."

"Finally," the Pope wrote, "I cannot forget all those who are subjected to multiple violations of their fundamental rights in the tragic context of armed conflict while the unscrupulous merchants of death get rich off the price of their brother and sisters' blood."

Everyone is called to play his or her part "with courage and determination" to stop those ongoing violations of basic human rights and promote respect for the fundamental rights of every person, "especially those who are 'invisible,' those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, foreign or detained, those who live on the margins of society or are rejected."

Pope Francis appealed to all world leaders "to put human rights at the center of their policies," including policies concerning development, "even when that means going against the tide."