PEACE IS THE FIRST PRIORITY OF ALL COUNTRIES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 17, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father received collectively this morning the Letters of Credence of eight new ambassadors to the Holy See. The Pope spoke in French to all the diplomats, but handed each one of them a speech, in which he addressed specific questions about their country.

The new ambassadors are: Vladimir R. Korolve of Belarus; Amadou Toure of Niger; Fredrik Vahlquist of Sweden; Jullapong Nonsrichai of Thailand; Euloge Hinvi of Benin; Abdelbasit Badawi Ali Elsanosi of Sudan; Horour H. Bjarnason of Iceland and Dina Kawar of Jordan.

"Peace," he said, "must be the first priority for all countries and on all continents, so that armed conflicts cease, as they only jeopardize the future of nations and populations, some of which are subjected to degrading and unworthy conditions of life. No one can be disinterested in the future of his brothers and sisters and act as if they did not know."

John Paul II emphasized that, "there are, without a doubt, two essential elements upon which it is important to insist together: dialogue and negotiations among the protagonists, called to live together in the same land and, on the other hand, the phenomena of globalization and of the growing contrast between rich and poor nations that creates ever-more striking inequalities. In the long term, peace means that less-advanced countries benefit from economic growth and appropriate aid. The first perspective must be to sustain local economies and to form people who will be in charge tomorrow of the future of their national community, and to thus reach the autonomy necessary for the country."

"Inequality among peoples challenges us unceasingly and must be for everyone the object of particular attention. ... In fact, peace goes along with the eradication of misery, the suppression of disparities among peoples. Likewise, it implies education for all. Young generations, especially sensitive to dramatic situations, need great signs so that their hopes are not in vain."

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