POPE RECEIVES NEW AMBASSADOR FROM IRAN

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed Mostafa Borujerdi, the new ambassador from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Holy See, who presented his Letters of Credence. In his speech the Pope highlighted "the importance of a true dialogue between cultures," recalling in particular that 2001 is the International Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations.

"Our world," he observed, "is made up of an amazing complexity and diversity of human cultures. Each of these cultures is distinct by virtue of its particular historical development and the resulting characteristics which make it an original and organic whole."

John Paul II went on to say that "it is largely through culture that people acquire a sense of national identity and develop a love of their country: these are values to be fostered, not with narrow-mindedness, but with respect and compassion for the whole human family. As I had occasion to remark in my Message for the 2001 World Day of Peace, efforts must be made 'to avoid those pathological manifestations which occur when the sense of belonging turns into self-exaltation, the rejection of diversity, and forms of nationalism, racism and xenophobia'."

The Holy Father remarked that "the recognition that every culture ... necessarily has limitations ... helps to prevent pride in one's own culture from becoming isolation or from turning into prejudice and prosecution against other cultures. The attentive study of other cultures will reveal that beneath seemingly divergent traits there are significant internal elements held in common, ... values which are common to all cultures because they are rooted on the very nature of the human person." He said these values include solidarity, peace, education, forgiveness, reconciliation and "the value of life itself."

Pope John Paul said he was "pleased" to note that "the Holy See and Iranian authorities have worked together to provide opportunities for such dialogue. ... Such dialogue will surely help governments and legislators in safeguarding the civil and social rights of individuals and peoples, especially the fundamental right to religious freedom ... which is a point of reference of all other rights. ... Accordingly, even in cases where the State grants a special juridical position to a particular religion, there is a duty to ensure that the right to freedom of conscience is legally recognized and effectively respected for all citizens and for foreigners residing in the country."

"In this regard," the Pope concluded, "the Holy See counts on the support of the Iranian authorities in ensuring that the Catholic faithful of Iran - present in that region of the world since the first centuries of Christianity - will enjoy the freedom to profess their faith and to continue to be a part of the rich cultural life of the nation. Although the Christian community is but a tiny minority in the overall population, it sees itself as truly Iranian."

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