Pope Receives Letters of Credence from Bolivian Ambassador

(14 Mar 08 -RV) Pope Benedict XVI this morning received Letters of Credence from the new Ambassador to the Holy See from Bolivia, His Excellency, Carlos Federico de la Riva Guerra.

Chris Altieri Reports...
Insert

In remarks delivered in writing to the Ambassador, Pope Benedict said the deep Christian roots of Bolivia have sustained the country’s people and showed them the way toward respect and reconciliation, so necessary in the difficult moments that Bolivia has faced in her history.

Pope Benedict also recalled the visit of his predecessor to Bolivia 20 years ago, and the warm welcome Pope John Paul II received on that occasion, testimony to the powerful mark of religious, spiritual and fraternal communion, that showed the faith of the whole people.

The Holy Father said it is important to remember that event, at a moment in which the nation is living a process of profound change, that produces difficult situations and some developments that are worrying.

Leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production.

In December 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo Morales president by the widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule, after Morales ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority.

The Pope said those with political power have need of the prudence and wisdom that are born of genuine love for humanity, in order to promote the conditions necessary for dialogue and accord among the whole population.

Pope Benedict said The Church is aware of the necessities and the experiences of the Bolivian people, and offers her witness of faith and her human experience in order to help the people of Bolivia in growing spiritually and achieving full reconciliation.

Faithful to Her mission, said Pope Benedict, the Church is always ready to co-operate toward the achievement of peace, as well as the human and spiritual development of the country.