POPE JOHN Paul II has called for international pacts to control
space technology for the good of the "whole human family." He
also warned rich nations against imposing "cultural or
ideological colonialism" on poorer nations "through use of the
instruments at their disposal, and in particular modern space
technology." The Pope made his remarks in an address to about 30
participants in a Pontifical Academy of Sciences-sponsored week
of study on the impact of space exploration on mankind. The Pope
called for regulation of use of space technology so that no one
country or group controls it. "Space belongs to the whole of
humanity; it is something for the benefit of all," he said to
the group, which is to report its findings to him at the end of
its study. "Just as the earth is for the benefit of all, and
private property must be distributed in such a way that every
human being is given a proper share in the goods of the earth,"
Pope John Paul said, "in the same way the occupation of space by
satellites and other