LETTERS OF CREDENCE OF NEW AMBASSADOR OF IRELAND

VATICAN CITY, SEP 7, 2001 (VIS) - This morning in the apostolic palace at Castelgandolfo the new ambassador of Ireland to the Holy See, Bernard Davenport, presented his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father who in his discourse recalled that "the Christian foundations of Europe owe much to the vision and labors of great Irish saints."

"In later, more troubled times," the Pope continued, "Irish men and women suffered discrimination, persecution and even martyrdom for their tenacious fidelity to the faith of their ancestors. This heritage has deeply marked the character and culture of the Irish people, who have a special sensitivity to the sufferings of other peoples, and have been outstanding in generosity and solidarity towards them"

"Recent years," the Pope noted, "have brought rapid social and economic change, leading to many positive developments, but also to new and sometimes destabilizing demands on individuals and society." He then emphasized the need "to discern those trends and changes which encourage genuine progress while safeguarding the values on which your nation is built."

"The choices made in the economic and social domain," he continued, "reveal a given culture's overall understanding of life. ... There is need for considerable educational and cultural effort to ensure that people, apart from developing new and advanced technological skills and expertise, are also trained to make responsible use of their new-found power of choice in order to distinguish between the valuable and the ephemeral."

The Pope went on to note the essential role which the family plays in "helping its members to grow to full human maturity, and therefore to play a responsible role in society. ... Today, however," he added, "the family is increasingly under severe pressure from a complicated interplay of forces which tend to subordinate the transcendent value of life to other immediate interests or even to personal convenience."

Commenting on the ambassador's discourse which noted the increasingly important role of Ireland in the international community, John Paul II affirmed: "The Holy See ... is deeply concerned about ... the worrying resurgence of aggressive forms of nationalism and racism (which) are serious threats to human dignity and undermine social coexistence, peace and harmony. ... A culture of mutual openness and acceptance needs to be fostered; this calls for suitable educational initiatives and the legal protection of the fundamental rights of all. Ireland's tradition of warm hospitality cannot fail precisely when the world stands in need of attitudes of fairness, justice and solidarity with those in need."

The Pope concluded his discourse by recalling his trip to Ireland in 1979 and his petition that "those involved in violence in Northern Ireland would renounce the use of arms and embrace the path of dialogue and peace." He went on to note that "much progress has been made in recent times in this regard and we must hope that a new spirit of enlightened commitment to the common good will indeed take hold at every level. Present difficulties are a reminder that peace is a fragile reality calling for continued goodwill and the implementation of the practical measures required for a just and harmonious society."

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