Pope receives new Dutch ambassador

(October 21, 2011) The Holy See’s diplomacy is not marked by political or economic interests but rather by universally applicable moral and ethical principles that underlie political or economic issues. Pope Benedict XVI defined the Holy See’s stance o Friday in his address to Netherlands’ new ambassador to the Holy See, Joseph Weterings who presented his credentials to the Pontiff at a formal ceremony in the Vatican on Friday. The Pope explained that the inspiration of the Holy See’s ethical principles that ought to underpin the social and political order comes from the Christian faith. “In acting as a voice for the voiceless and defending the rights of the defenceless, including the poor, the sick, the unborn, the elderly, and the members of minority groups who suffer unjust discrimination,” the Pope said, “the Church seeks always to promote natural justice as it is her right and duty to do.” Pope Benedict also expressed concern over threats to religious freedom today saying they come not only from legal constraints in some parts of the world, but also from an anti-religious mentality within many societies, even where freedom of religion is guaranteed by law. He hoped the Dutch government will be vigilant in protecting and promoting the freedom of religion both at home and abroad. The Pontiff appreciated the Dutch Government efforts in discouraging drug abuse and prostitution. While the nation champions the freedom of individuals to make their own choices, the Pope said, it must discourage those choices by which people inflict harm on themselves or others, for the sake of the good of society as a whole.