VATICAN CITY, 5 DEC 2008 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received the Letters of Credence of Juan Pablo Cafiero, the new ambassador of Argentina to the Holy See.
In his address to the diplomat, the Pope described Argentina as "a place of profound Christian traditions which have planted and cultivated important customs, thus creating the specific identity and religiosity of a people who long to progress and to offer the best of themselves to the international community".
"The evangelical message", he went on, "has taken deep root in the country giving abundant fruit, especially in illustrious deeds that have enriched others with the exemplary witness of human and Christian virtues". In this context the Holy Father mentioned the young Mapuche Blessed Ceferino Namuncura who was, he said, "a splendid sign of how Christ, Who truly is the Word incarnate, ... is not foreign to any culture or person; quite the opposite, the answer for which all cultures long in their hearts is what gives them their true identity, uniting humankind while respecting differences".
"In exercising her mission the Church always seeks to promote the dignity of human beings and to elevate them for the good of everyone. ... Without seeking to become a political player she aspires, with the independence of her moral authority, to co-operate faithfully and openly with all leaders of the temporal world in the noble goal of achieving a civilisation of justice, peace, reconciliation, solidarity, and of those other ideals that can never be rescinded or left at the mercy of party consensus, as they are engraved in the human heart and correspond to truth".
"The 21st century is showing us with increasing clarity the need to forge personal, family and social life in keeping with these elemental values, which exalt the individual and the entire community. Among these we must highlight support for the family based on marriage between a man and a woman, ... defence of human life from conception to natural end, eradication of poverty, ... the struggle against corruption, adopting means to assist parents in their inalienable right to educate their children in their own ethical and religious convictions, and promoting young people that they may become men and women of peace and reconciliation".
"In this light", the Holy Father concluded, "today in the presence of a delegation from this Apostolic See, the presidents of Argentina and Chile are meeting to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the mediation undertaken by ... John Paul II to resolve the dispute between the two nations over the demarcation of their borders at the southern tip of the continent. The monument to be built at Mount Aymond will stand as an eloquent witness and serve to tighten further the bonds of fraternity and understanding of both countries which, thanks to the efforts of their leaders and institutions, and their shared cultural, social and religious ideals, were able to abandon the path of confrontation and show that through dialogue and largeness of heart dignified, stable and lasting peace can be achieved, as is right among wise and civilised peoples".
CD/LETTERS CREDENCE/ARGENTINA:CAFIERO VIS 20081205 (530)
In his address to the diplomat, the Pope described Argentina as "a place of profound Christian traditions which have planted and cultivated important customs, thus creating the specific identity and religiosity of a people who long to progress and to offer the best of themselves to the international community".
"The evangelical message", he went on, "has taken deep root in the country giving abundant fruit, especially in illustrious deeds that have enriched others with the exemplary witness of human and Christian virtues". In this context the Holy Father mentioned the young Mapuche Blessed Ceferino Namuncura who was, he said, "a splendid sign of how Christ, Who truly is the Word incarnate, ... is not foreign to any culture or person; quite the opposite, the answer for which all cultures long in their hearts is what gives them their true identity, uniting humankind while respecting differences".
"In exercising her mission the Church always seeks to promote the dignity of human beings and to elevate them for the good of everyone. ... Without seeking to become a political player she aspires, with the independence of her moral authority, to co-operate faithfully and openly with all leaders of the temporal world in the noble goal of achieving a civilisation of justice, peace, reconciliation, solidarity, and of those other ideals that can never be rescinded or left at the mercy of party consensus, as they are engraved in the human heart and correspond to truth".
"The 21st century is showing us with increasing clarity the need to forge personal, family and social life in keeping with these elemental values, which exalt the individual and the entire community. Among these we must highlight support for the family based on marriage between a man and a woman, ... defence of human life from conception to natural end, eradication of poverty, ... the struggle against corruption, adopting means to assist parents in their inalienable right to educate their children in their own ethical and religious convictions, and promoting young people that they may become men and women of peace and reconciliation".
"In this light", the Holy Father concluded, "today in the presence of a delegation from this Apostolic See, the presidents of Argentina and Chile are meeting to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the mediation undertaken by ... John Paul II to resolve the dispute between the two nations over the demarcation of their borders at the southern tip of the continent. The monument to be built at Mount Aymond will stand as an eloquent witness and serve to tighten further the bonds of fraternity and understanding of both countries which, thanks to the efforts of their leaders and institutions, and their shared cultural, social and religious ideals, were able to abandon the path of confrontation and show that through dialogue and largeness of heart dignified, stable and lasting peace can be achieved, as is right among wise and civilised peoples".
CD/LETTERS CREDENCE/ARGENTINA:CAFIERO VIS 20081205 (530)
No comments:
Post a Comment