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ADDRESS
OF THE HOLY FATHER Friday, 12 July 1979
Mr Ambassador, TODAY, AS YOU present your Letters of Credence as Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, I
extend to you a cordial welcome to the Holy See. I
thank you for the greetings that you bring from the President and people of your
country. And through you I reciprocate this thoughtful gesture in expectation of
being able to greet your President personally. I am
also grateful for the kind words you have spoken about the Holy See’s concern
for peace in the world. The question is indeed intimately linked to the other
issues that you mentioned: poverty, social justice and spiritual values. In all
these fields, and in others, the Catholic Church has pledged her contribution.
As she pursues her spiritual mission, she is keenly aware of the nature of man
in the fullness of his human condition, and of his multiple needs. In speaking
in my Encyclical Letter of the Church’s solicitude I stated: "The object
of her care is man in his unique unrepeatable human reality, which keeps intact
the image and likeness of God himself". The
quest for human betterment in accord with the dignity of man is long and
difficult. But the Church is intent on continuing her course under the sign of
hope. Her activity finds expression at both the local level and the
international level. In
Bangladesh itself the Catholic Church is engaged in various initiatives of
service that benefit the people. Her charitable and educational undertakings are
consonant with her commitment to generous and unselfish service. This aim, in
turn, reflects the very constitution of the Church. And
from this centre of international activity, the Church endeavours to put all her
energies at the service of humanity. What she does in the field of social
justice, development and world peace is oriented to the concrete good of each
people and of all the peoples of the earth. By the means proper to her she works
to encourage and support the efforts being made throughout the world to enlist
the grass-roots participation of everyone in the cause of human advancement.
This support and encouragement and service find concrete expression also for
Bangladesh and for all its citizens. Be
assured therefore, Mr Ambassador, as you begin your new diplomatic mission, of
the understanding and cooperation of the Holy See. Be assured of my own personal
good wishes. Be assured of my prayers. *AAS 71 (1979), p. 1351-1352. Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, vol. II, 2 pp.
44-45. L’Attivitą della Santa Sede 1979 p. 494. L'Osservatore Romano 13.7.1979 pp.1, 2. L'Osservatore Romano. Weekly Edition in English
n.32 p.5. © Copyright 1979 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana |
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