VATICAN CITY, 3 JUN 2008 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office issued the following declaration at midday today:
"With reference to certain journalistic suppositions that have been circulating in the media over the last few days, the Press Office feels it appropriate to specify that the Holy Father Benedict XVI was not able to respond positively to the requests for private audience he received from heads of State and government who have come to Rome for the High-Level Conference on World Food Security, promoted by the FAO. This was because of the number of requests, the limited time available, and prior commitments. In this context, the Cardinal Secretary of State has written personally to each of the leaders concerned, informing them of the Holy Father's disappointment at the impossibility, on this occasion, of meeting them personally, and reaffirming his willingness to receive them on a future occasion.
"It must, furthermore, be remembered that this is in no way a new practice because, as of April 2006, the Secretariat of State had opportunely informed the diplomatic missions to the Holy See that it would be difficult to accept such requests for audience on the occasion of international conferences and congresses".
OP/AUDIENCES HEADS OF STATE/... VIS 20080603 (220)
"With reference to certain journalistic suppositions that have been circulating in the media over the last few days, the Press Office feels it appropriate to specify that the Holy Father Benedict XVI was not able to respond positively to the requests for private audience he received from heads of State and government who have come to Rome for the High-Level Conference on World Food Security, promoted by the FAO. This was because of the number of requests, the limited time available, and prior commitments. In this context, the Cardinal Secretary of State has written personally to each of the leaders concerned, informing them of the Holy Father's disappointment at the impossibility, on this occasion, of meeting them personally, and reaffirming his willingness to receive them on a future occasion.
"It must, furthermore, be remembered that this is in no way a new practice because, as of April 2006, the Secretariat of State had opportunely informed the diplomatic missions to the Holy See that it would be difficult to accept such requests for audience on the occasion of international conferences and congresses".
OP/AUDIENCES HEADS OF STATE/... VIS 20080603 (220)
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