New Ambassador of Colombia to the Vatican presents a Letter of Credence to Pope Benedict XVI

(09 Feb. 07) : The new Ambassador of the Republic of Columbia to the Vatican, Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez, presented Letter of Credence to Pope Benedict XVI on Friday. In his address to the Ambassador the Holy Father said that he was aware that the South American nation, throughout the history had distinguished itself by its Catholic identity. Citing some of the difficulties that Colombians have to face, such an insecurity, long internal conflict, social instability, kidnappings, poverty, economic underdevelopment and downgraded quality of life in families, the Pope encouraged all the Colombians to continue in their efforts to obtain concord and harmonic growth of the nation. These aspirations will be accomplished, the Pontiff said, only when God is considered as the centre of their life and of human history.

Pope Benedict further said that the irreplaceable base of true human progress and of peaceful co-existence, was for men and women of good will, to follow the way of pardon and bear common responsibility to restore justice in the country. Assuring them the required assistance from the Church, the Holy Father said, the numerous institutions dedicated to the charity, the pastoral projects of the Episcopal Conference and the dioceses, are called to lend humanitarian assistance to the most needy, specially the displaced, as well as to the victims of the violence. In conclusion, Pope Benedict XVI invoked God’s blessings on all Colombian people, through the intercession of Our lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira.