Pope welcomes new ambassadors, urges fights against arms trade, forced migration
May 15, 2014 - Pope Francis on Thursday welcomed to the Vatican seven new ambassadors
to the Holy See, including Mysore Kapanaiah Lokesh of India, urging the world community
to particularly fight arms trade and forced migration. The Pope received the ambassadors
of India, Switzerland, Liberia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Jamaica and South Africa, as they
presented their credentials to the Pope at a formal ceremony, at the start of their
mission to the Holy See. In a common message to the diplomats, the Pope wished the
people of their respective nations God’s abundant prosperity and peace. He said peace
summarizes all the good that every person and all human societies aspire to. And even
in diplomatic missions such as theirs, in their final analysis, the goal is to make
peace in development and justice grow in the human family. However, the Pope admitted
it is a goal not fully realized, which calls every generation to search for it anew
in the face of challenges of every age. In this regard the Pope pointed to two
such challenges: arms trade and forced migration. The Pope noted that arms trade
complicate and exacerbate solutions to conflicts, more so because much of it is illegal.
He hoped the international community will usher in a new season of concerted and courageous
effort to curtail proliferation of arms. Describing forced migration a true human
tragedy, the Pope appreciated the great efforts of numerous agencies and volunteers,
but said it is just not enough to respond to emergencies. It is time to tackle it
with serious and responsible political approach involving all levels – local to the
international. In the phenomenon of migration, the Pope noted there are both
heroic stories of persons and families who were able to come out of their inhuman
situation and found dignity, freedom and security. On the other hand, unfortunately
there are those whose condition make us weep and ashamed – our brothers and sisters,
children of God, driven by the urge to live and work in peace face harrowing journeys,
extortion, torture, oppression of every type, and often end up with death in the desert
or in the sea bed. Forced migration, closely linked with conflicts and wars, and
also the proliferation of arms, the Pope explained, are the wounds of the world that
call us to be responsible for our brothers and sister so that no human being’s dignity
is violated. It would be an absurd contradiction to talk of peace and at the same
time promote and allow arms trade, he added. The ambassador of India to Switzerland
is also ambassador to the Holy See and the Principality of Liechtenstein, and hence
is based in Berne, Switzerland. Mr. Mysore Kapanaiah Lokesh’s appointment to the Holy
See was made in March, and he formally presented his credentials to Pope Francis on
Thursday, along with ambassadors of six other states. Mr. Lokesh joined the Indian
Foreign Service in 1977. At the initial stage of his diplomatic career, he served
at Indian Missions in Kandy and Colombo (Sri Lanka); Embassy of India, Brussels; and,
High Commission of India, Lagos. Ambassador Lokesh has served as Counsellor/Minister
in Embassy of India, Washington, (Nov 1994-June 1997); Consul General in Durban (July
1997-Nov 2000); Ambassador to Slovak Republic (Apr 2004-June 2007), Deputy Chief of
Mission in Embassy of India, Brussels (Aug 2007-March 2010) and Ambassador to the
United Arab Emirates (April 2010 - December 2013) Various assignments handled by Ambassador
Lokesh in India include: Deputy Secretary, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington;
Deputy Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations; and Joint Secretary
(Africa), in the Ministry of External Affairs. Ambassador Lokesh is a Post-Graduate
in Botany and in Military Science. Ambassador Lokesh is married and has two daughters.
His wife, Mrs. Radhika Lal Lokesh, an Indian Foreign Service Officer, is currently
Ambassador of India to the Republic of Ireland. Ambassador Lokesh is vastly travelled
and besides Kannada (Mother Tongue) has good knowledge of Tamil, Sinhalese and French.