LETTERS OF CREDENCE OF NEW AMBASSADOR OF BRAZIL

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received the new ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Holy See, Oto Agripino Maia, on the occasion of the presentation of his Letters of Credence. The Pope recalled in his discourse that the Jubilee Year coincided with the celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the discovery and evangelization of Brazil.

After affirming that Brazil "is assuming an ever more important role in the concert of Latin American nations," the Holy Father emphasized that "initiatives directed towards the promotion of peace definitively influence the consolidation of democracy in these regions."

"Efforts to overcome social inequalities, defense of the environment, the promotion and defense of the rights of children and women, the promotion - recently ever more urgent - of better conditions of life in prisons and, not least, respect for religious teaching in centers of instruction, are undoubtedly objectives ... which require constant dedication for the wellbeing of the country from the nation's representatives."

The Holy Father affirmed that evangelization is a competence of the Church, and that the Church is "grateful to the State for the collaboration given in such a difficult mission. In this regard I hope that the migratory process of missionaries both within and outside of the country's borders can be facilitated."

"The pastoral visits which I have made to your country," the Holy Father continued, "have touched me deeply and strengthen the hope that Brazil wishes to continue to be the guide of many Latin American countries."

After referring to the "presence of Brazil in the United Nations and International Organizations," the Holy Father affirmed: "I hope that the principles inspired by this participation in the society of nations, are directed according to criteria whose fundamental objective is the respect of human dignity, especially in the case of unborn human beings, today seriously threatened by reproductive technologies which attempt to attack human life. ... Furthermore, drug trafficking, corruption at all levels, inequality between social groups, and the irrational destruction of nature attest that: 'In the absence of moral points of reference, an unbridled greed for wealth and power takes over, obscuring any Gospel-based vision of social reality'."

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