FIRST AMBASSADOR FROM KAZAKHSTAN ACCREDITED TO THE HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 17, 2001 (VIS) - John Paul II this morning at Castelgandolfo welcomed the first ambassador from Kazakhstan to the Holy See, Nurlan Danenov. In his address, the Pope pointed how that he would be leaving in several days on an apostolic trip to that nation which this year celebrates 10 years of independence.

The Pope noted that the ambassador, in his remarks, had "underlined how different ethnic groups live on Kazakhstan soil, with different cultures, languages and religions. This pluralistic situation is both a challenge and an opportunity. It is a challenge because, as I said in my Message for the World Day of Peace on January 1, 2001, 'In the past, cultural differences have often been a source of misunderstanding between peoples and the cause of conflicts and wars'. It would be opportune therefore for each particular group to favor attentive respect for the others, in making an effort to better know them, to overcome eventual tensions."

He went on to say that "forming together a national community, enriched by each one's differences, is also an opportunity. That presupposes learning to live in union with each other."

"The cultural diversity of your country," the Holy Father remarked, "is accompanied by a great religious and denominational diversity and you have stressed, Mr. Ambassador, the importance your government grants to this religious pluralism, to dialogue among religions and to the spiritual dimension of the life of the man that they express. I rejoice in this regard at the good relations which exist between the Holy See and your country, and the agreements which guarantee the rights and duties of the Catholic community living in Kazakhstan as well as the State's obligations towards it. Indeed, in a state of law, religious freedom is a precious good, an expression of the basic dignity of the human person who freely chooses, according to his conscience, the religion he will practice."

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