Mr Ambassador,
I am pleased to welcome you today and to accept the Letters of
Credence by which His Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal appoints you Ambassador of
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Holy See. Since the establishment of
diplomatic relations between us, you are the third in a distinguished line of
Ambassadors who have worked effectively to strengthen the ties uniting us. I
extend to you my good wishes for the success of your mission. I thank you for
the greetings which you bring from King Hussein, and I ask you to convey to His
Majesty my own greetings and to assure him of my prayers for the peace and
prosperity of the nation.
Inevitably, the peace and prosperity of Jordan are closely tied
to the situation in the Middle East as a whole. In recent years, hopes have been
raised that negotiations would produce peaceful solutions to the many problems
of the region. But these hopes have not yet been fulfilled. Indeed in times such
as the present the prospect of fulfilment even seems to have receded.
It is clear that there will be no peace unless there is the will
to pursue the path of dialogue and understanding which alone can lead to peace.
When this determination is not present on all sides, frustration and anger take
hold, which in turn lead to violence. I pay tribute to your country and to His
Majesty the King, for Jordan has demonstrated a strong will to pursue the way of
dialogue and understanding, to work patiently and courageously for peace. The
most recent negotiations suggest that, with the prospect of a breakdown in the
peace process which would surely prove disastrous for all, there is still
determination to find non-violent solutions. It is my fervent hope that the
voice of reason will prevail. I repeat once again that there is only one path
that can be taken - that of respect, justice and cooperation. History has
repeatedly shown that the rejection of dialogue in favour of aggression is a
decision which creates many more problems than it solves; thus, it is not a
reasonable option. The only reasonable option, in the Middle East as elsewhere,
remains that of dialogue and understanding.
In the current complex and difficult situation, the Church seeks
to make her distinctive contribution, not in favour of one people or another but
in favour of peace, and therefore in favour of all the peoples of the region. In
this, the Church is motivated not by narrow institutional self-interest nor by
political calculation, but by a profound respect for all the peoples of the
Middle East and by the solemn duty which the Gospel imposes. It is the Gospel
rather than any ideology which enables the Church to see the truth about the
human person and human society, a truth easily obscured when pressures are so
great and complexities so daunting. In such a situation, the Church seeks to
speak a word of truth about the human person and human society, since without
that truth any agreement which might be negotiated would be illusory. It would
lack the one sure foundation upon which a just and lasting peace may be built.
The Church is inspired by a moral vision, born of faith, it is
true, but reaching beyond the circle of Christian faith to be shared by all
people committed to the common good. It is a moral vision which Jews, Christians
and Moslems can share, since all three are born of a tradition of ethical
monotheism. We are all children of a religious tradition which insists
that man cannot worship the one true God without respecting the moral imperative
which has its roots in God. Such a vision understands that a peace process which
ignores justice will descend sooner or later into short-sighted pragmatism,
self-interest or opportunism.
In fact, there can be no peace without justice. All the peoples
of the Middle East have in some way been wronged, and all have inalienable
rights. Justice demands that wrongs be redressed and rights be respected. But
neither will there be justice without truth. To see the necessary relationship
between peace, justice and truth is to understand the moral structure of peace.
It is this above all which any peace process must respect; and it is at this
point that the Church pledges to cooperate in every way possible.
The history of the Middle East shows how religion, when linked
to ideology, can divide and lead even to violent conflict. Yet it is equally
clear that, when religion is allowed to be what it truly is, then it can unite,
enabling believers to walk together in trust and mutual respect. With its
enlightened Constitution and the initiatives in favour of interreligious
dialogue taken by His Majesty the King and by Crown Prince Hassan, the Kingdom
of Jordan has indicated that such a way forward is possible. It is my hope that
Christians in your country will continue to participate in all sectors of social
life and in public institutions. But also beyond the borders of Jordan, it is
vital now that Jews, Christians and Moslems should find that common path which
leads to a strengthening of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation.
In reflecting upon peace, my thoughts turn inevitably to the
Holy City, so often destroyed yet always rebuilt, its stones a symbol of both
human desolation and the power of human hope. The long and troubled history of
Jerusalem will reach a new threshold in the year 2000 as the Third Millennium of
Christianity dawns. It is my fervent hope that this may prompt formal
recognition with international guarantees of the unique and sacred character of
the Holy City. Indeed, it is we who belong to Jerusalem, since we are all her
children; and if this is true, then the City ought to become a place where all
peoples of the world can meet in peace. The Holy City has always had a special
place in Jordanian history and in the heart of the Jordanian people.
Mr Ambassador, I trust most sincerely that the bonds of
friendship and understanding between the Kingdom of Jordan and the Holy See will
be strengthened by your time of service in Rome, so that we may collaborate ever
more effectively in the search for peace. I assure you of the ready assistance
of the various offices and agencies of the Holy See as you perform your duties.
Upon yourself, your family and your beloved country I invoke the abundant
blessings of Almighty God.
