Mr Ambassador,
Your presence here today crowns the establishment of diplomatic relations
between this Apostolic See and your country on 8 July 1997. I am therefore very
pleased to receive the Letters of Credence appointing you the first Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Angola to the Holy See. I
am grateful for the kind words and gracious sentiments you have expressed and,
in particular, for the respectful greetings and good wishes you bring me from
H.E. Mr José Eduardo dos Santos, President of the Republic, who wished to mark
the day and the act of the establishment of our diplomatic relations by his
welcome visit here to the Vatican. I ask Your Excellency to express my cordial
greetings to the President, together with the assurance of my prayers for the
reconciliation and prosperity of his people.
By establishing their representative's residence in Rome, the Angolan
authorities show the importance they attach to strengthening those bonds with
the Successor of Peter that faith and history have forged in the soul of
generation after generation of people living in the territories which today
constitute Angola. Having embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the complete
answer to their longing for salvation, they sometimes feel cheated in their
expectations due to poverty and human limitations or to the events and
misfortunes of history. Now, when they wish to show their joyful gratitude for
the faith they received, or in the past, when they had to find a remedy for
pastoral needs or for the abuses of which they were victims, they thought of
Rome, as you said, Mr Ambassador, which in this regard can interpret your
presence here as the realization of a five-centuries-old dream. Thus in giving
you my cordial welcome at this presentation, I would like to assure you of my
esteem for the fulfilment of the lofty mission which your Government has
entrusted to you, and, through Your Excellency, to express once again the deep
affection I feel for all Angola's children.
During my Pastoral Visit to Angola in June 1992, I could personally experience
the loyalty and warm friendship of Angolans for the Successor of Peter and
admire the deep religious feeling in people's hearts which led to a clamour for
peace and justice. My happy memories of those days became a prayer during the
tragic events that in the last months of 1992 disrupted the social and political
life of the country, which was once again caught up in a spiral of violence that
was to last until November 1994, when Angola, through the Lusaka agreements and
the consequent formation of the National Government of Unity and Reconciliation,
returned to political pluralism and the democratization of social life.
This path is difficult and full of obstacles, but the culture of violence must
give way to the culture of peace. Only a sincere desire to achieve real
reconciliation will permit resistance to be overcome and ensure that the common
good is given priority over particular interests. God blesses the courageous
efforts of clear-sighted leaders in their search for what is best for the
nation. In this regard, together with my voice others are being raised on all
sides demanding that the desired meeting between Mr José Eduardo dos Santos and
Mr Jonas Malheiro Savimbi take place as soon as possible. As everyone hopes,
this meeting will provide a climate of mutual trust and esteem, which will
greatly contribute to the process of national and regional normalization.
Angolans cannot allow the war to continue to mortgage their future in the form
of fear, suspicion and division. In my
Message for the World Day of Peace 1997, I said: "One cannot remain a
prisoner of the past, for individuals and peoples need a sort of 'healing of
memories', so that past evils will not come back again. This does not mean
forgetting past events; it means re-examining them with a new attitude and
learning precisely from the experience of suffering that only love can build up,
whereas hatred produces devastation and ruin" (n. 3; L'Osservatore Romano
English edition, 18/25 December 1996, p. 3). In speaking of a new attitude, I
was thinking concretely of the offer of forgiveness. Forgiveness and
reconciliation are the way to strengthen the bonds of solidarity between
individuals and peoples. This solidarity will produce the true and lasting peace
that everyone wants.
Another attitude is dialogue as an option for personal and community growth.
Everyone must encourage dialogue, both in public life and in the various areas
of social life; this will enable each individual and group to be recognized in
their diversity and, at the same time, to feel that they are called to serve
their homeland. The existence of different groups within the country is both a
challenge and an opportunity, especially for political leaders and legislators.
Civil authorities must be aware of the legitimate demands of various groups and
respond to them appropriately.
May I assure you, Mr Ambassador, that the Church and the Holy See wish to
co-operate with the Angolan nation and its leaders, just as the Government and
the nation wish to collaborate with the Church. The nature of this co-operation
was clearly defined by the Second Vatican Council in the Pastoral Constitution
Gaudium et spes on the Church in the modern world: "The political
community and the Church ... both are devoted to the personal vocation of man,
though under different titles. This service will redound the more effectively to
the welfare of all in so far as both institutions practise better co-operation
according to the local and prevailing situation" (n. 76). Man, in his
transcendent existential dimension, is a meeting point for the Church and the
political community.
Conscious of her mission on man's behalf, the Church does not seek to interfere
in the concrete direction of the nation's sociopolitical life, but wishes,
within the scope of her mandate, to indicate the motives she receives from the
Gospel and the faith, motives that help unite hearts and minds in building a
society which is sound, strong and tolerant, and can resolve conflicts by means
of dialogue, an Angolan society open to man and, in international relations,
open to Africa and the world. The Church will support every effort and
initiative whose objective is the common good of all.
Mr Ambassador, your presence here confirms that the Republic of Angola is really
beginning a new era. I am convinced that as a result of the mission Your
Excellency is beginning today, the bonds of friendship and co-operation between
your nation and the Holy See will be increased and strengthened. I assure you
that the various agencies and dicasteries of the Roman Curia will always be
ready to assist you in fulfilling your duties. As I again offer you my best
wishes for the success of your mission, I invoke the blessings of the Most High
on Your Excellency, on your distinguished family and your co-workers in the
Embassy, on the Government and the beloved people of Angola.
*L'Osservatore Romano. Weekly edition in English n.10 p.8.
© Copyright
1998 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
