HOLY FATHER WELCOMES SEVEN NEW AMBASSADORS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 14, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning collectively received the Letters of Credence of seven new ambassadors to the Holy See. He spoke to them as a group in English but consigned to each of them an address in their own language, touching on specific issues regarding their country.

The new ambassadors are: Samuel A. Otuyelo of Nigeria; Silas S. Ncozana from Malawi; Boaz K. Mbaya of Kenya; Christos N. Psilogenis from Cyprus; Niranjan N. Desai of India; Beraky Gebreslassie from Eritrea and Mahmoud H. Mahmoud of Chad.

"We are approaching the end of the Year of the Great Jubilee," he began his address, "during which it has been my wish to awaken the consciences of Christians and all people of good will to the importance of beginning the new millennium with a fresh commitment to the construction of a transformed world, a world more solidly founded on fundamental human and moral values."

Inviting heads of government and civil and religious authorities "to be builders of a genuine culture of peace," Pope John Paul pointed out that "the young especially desire to see the day when peace will reign on earth. We must not disappoint them. It is our responsibility not to leave them a world in which basic human rights are too often disregarded and tensions often turn into open conflict." He added that proper schooling would be "an essential step in this direction."

The Pope observed that "it is appropriate to reflect on the efforts of international and supra-national institutions to find new ways of organizing economic and social realities, of promoting dialogue and agreement, of resolving conflicts. ... We can all rejoice in the most recent accord between the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments."

John Paul II concluding by underlining "the significance of diplomacy as a means of overcoming the crises affecting many countries across the world and the importance of a diplomacy of proximity in support of local negotiations. ... In this sense you each have a magnificent opportunity to be authentic builders of justice, peace and harmony in the world."

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