HOLY FATHER: USE ALL MEANS TO ACHIEVE PEACE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received the Letters of Credence of eleven new ambassadors to the Holy See. After greeting the diplomats, he gave each of them a written message concerning the civil and religious situation in their own particular countries.

  The new ambassadors are: Ali Abeid A. Karume of Tanzania; Madan Kumar Bhattarai of Nepal; Pekka Ojanen of Finland; Gilbert Ramirez Chagoury of Santa Lucia; Francisco A. Soler of El Salvador; Sten Erik Malmborg Lilholt of Denmark; Konji Sebati of South Africa; Idriss Jazairy of Algeria; Petros Tseggai Asghedom of Eritrea; Feliz Kodjo Sagbo of Togo; and Antoni Morell Mora of Andorra.

  In his French-language address to the assembled ambassadors, the Holy Father pointed out how "news of conflicts arrives from all over the world," and made a fresh call for "the leaders of nations and all people of good will to unite and put a stop to the violence that disfigures humanity and places a heavy mortgage on the development of mankind and the hope of many peoples. Without a universal commitment to peace - in order to create a climate of pacification and a spirit of reconciliation at all levels of social life, beginning with the family - it is not possible to progress along the road to a pacified society."

  Benedict XVI indicated that "in order to achieve ever more harmonious development among peoples, it is important to pay special attention to youth, ensuring that families and the various educational structures are provided with the means to form and educate the young, transmitting essential spiritual, moral and social values, and preparing them for a better future. The young must be made truly aware of their role in society and of the behavior they must adopt in order to serve the common good and to pay attention to everyone's needs."

  This, the Holy Father stressed, is "one of the essential ways to ensure that, in the long-term, the world exits from the cycle of violence." He then gave assurances that the Catholic Church, "present on all continents, will not cease to offer her assistance through numerous educational initiatives, and by forming people's religious conscience to ensure the development of a sense of fraternity and solidarity."

  Benedict XVI expressed the hope that all human beings "may commit to peace and reconciliation in all continents, because it is not enough to 'decide' on peace, but to attain it. All means must be used at all levels of society, in order to achieve this end."

  In his message to the ambassador of Santa Lucia, the Holy Father recalls the Catholic Church's commitment "against the trade and use of drugs," and affirms that foiling "this pernicious threat to the fabric of society, which fuels crime and violence, ... demands great political resolve, international cooperation, and the support of the whole community."

  To the ambassador of El Salvador, the Pope says that the religious mission of pastors in that country "does not exempt them from fomenting national dialogue between the leaders of social life," and "that social improvement is not achieved only by applying the necessary technical means, but also by promoting reforms with a human and moral foundation."

  Cooperation in the ecumenical field and inter-religious dialogue are the central themes of the Pope's message to the ambassadors from Finland and Denmark. Benedict XVI recalls his own commitment, which he assumed at the beginning of his pontificate, and expresses the hope that dialogue with the Lutheran Church may prove fruitful.

  In his message to the Algerian ambassador, which makes reference to the serious violence the country has suffered in recent years, the Pope writes that "in order to defend the sacred value of the person, respect for others and religious freedoms, it is necessary that a spirit of reconciliation and justice be inculcated into the young generations."

  In his message to the Eritrean diplomat, the Holy Father speaks of the Church's closeness "to refugees and displaced persons, not only with her pastoral presence and material support, but also with her commitment to defend their human dignity."
CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/...                        VIS 20051201 (700)