UN chief commends Pope Benedict’s legacy

March 04, 2013 - United Nations chief on Friday praised Emeritus Pope Benedict’s wisdom, commitment to interfaith dialogue and promotion of human rights as among the highlights of his nearly 8-year pontificate that ended on Thursday. "I have expressed in my letter to his holiness my deepest appreciation and respect, for the profound commitment of Pope Benedict to interfaith dialogue and to addressing such global challenges as the alleviation of poverty and hunger, as well as promotion of human rights and human dignity and peace and harmony of the world,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon told a press conference at the UN in Geneva. “I sincerely hope that his wisdom demonstrated during his pontificate may stand as a legacy on which to build a further dialog and tolerance so that we all will be able to live in a world of peace and harmony," he said, adding, “we are very much grateful for his spiritual guidance and leadership, which he …demonstrate(ed) as Pope.” Pope Benedict had received the UN Secretary-General in Rome and subsequently visited the UN head offices in New York City in 2008.