50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HOLY SEE'S PERMANENT MISSION AT UNESCO

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2002 (VIS) - Today a message that John Paul II wrote on November 25 to Msgr. Francesco Follo, permanent observer of the Holy See to United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Holy See's permanent mission to the same organization, was made public.

The Holy Father begins by recalling Blessed John XXIII, Pope Angelo Roncalli, who was the first permanent observer of the Holy See to UNESCO. He goes on to talk about the history of UNESCO, created immedietly after World War II, and to praise "the noble mission" which it carries out, seeking the "mutual knowledge of cultures" and the "promotion of their institutional dialogue by all sorts of initiatives at the international level."

"For its part, the Catholic Church," concludes the Pope, " ... wishes to continue encouraging with determination the peaceful encounter of human beings through their cultures and the consideration of the religious and spiritual dimension of individuals which is part of their history."

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