Speech of Pope Benedict XVI to the Ambassador to the Holy See from the Philippines
Speech of Pope Benedict XVI to the Ambassador to the Holy See from the Philippines
Mrs.
Mercedes Arrastia Tuason
Madam Ambassador, Grateful for the kind words
which you have addressed to me, I gladly accept the Letters of Credence accrediting
you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines
to the Holy See. I would like to reciprocate the warm greetings which you have extended
to me on behalf of Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and I would
ask you to convey to her and to all the beloved Filipino people the assurance of my
spiritual closeness and prayers, especially for the victims of Typhoon Ketsana. For
over half a century, the Holy See and the Philippines have maintained excellent diplomatic
relations, strengthening their long-standing cooperation for the promotion of peace,
human dignity and freedom. The spirit of good will which has brought us to this day
will surely enkindle a fresh desire to work together so that justice and freedom go
hand-in-hand, and that democratic principles be grounded in truth. For her part,
in the midst of the many changing social, economic and political conditions around
the globe, the Church continues to hold out the Gospel as the path to authentic human
progress (cf. Spe Salvi, 23). I am confident that the faith of the Filipino people
– a faith, as Your Excellency has indicated, which gives them the “resilience” to
face any hardship or difficulty – will arouse in them a desire to participate ever
more fervently in the worldwide task of building up a civilization of love, the seed
of which God has implanted in every people and every culture. Your Excellency,
I am pleased to note the various development initiatives under way in your country,
including the modernization of irrigation systems, the improvement of public transportation
and the reform of social assistance programs. As the Philippines continues to implement
these and other plans for a just and sustainable development, I am confident that
she will draw upon all her resources – spiritual as well as material – so that her
citizens may flourish in body and soul, knowing the goodness of God and living in
solidarity with their neighbors. Such programs, of course, are primarily aimed at
improving the actual living conditions of the poorest, thus enabling them to fulfill
their responsibilities towards their families and to carry out the duties which fall
to them as members of the wider community. Above all, the struggle against poverty
calls for honesty, integrity and an unwavering fidelity to the principles of justice,
especially on the part of those directly entrusted with the offices of governance
and public administration. In an age when the name of God is abused by certain
groups, the “work of charity” (Caritas in Veritate, 57) is particularly urgent. This
is especially true in regions that have been sadly scarred by conflicts. I encourage
all to persevere so that peace may prevail. As you have mentioned, Madam Ambassador,
initiatives that aim at facilitating dialogue and cultural exchange are particularly
effective, for peace can never come about merely as the product of a technical process
engineered through legislative, judicial or economic means. In the conviction that
evil is only conquered with good (cf. Rom 12:21), many in your country are taking
courageous steps to bring people together in order to foster reconciliation and mutual
understanding. I am thinking in particular of the commendable work of the Bishops
Ulama Conference (BUC), the Mindanao People's Conference, as well as that of many
grassroots organizations. The Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on
Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development, which your country
will host in December, also holds out the promise of advancing peace in Mindanao and
throughout the world. In closing, Madam Ambassador, I would like to take this opportunity
to reassure the Filipino people of my affection and continued prayers for them. I
encourage them to allow their deep faith, their cultural heritage and the democratic
values that have been a part of their patrimony from the time of their independence
to shine as an example to all. Extending a cordial welcome to you and to your distinguished
family, I offer you my best wishes that your stay in Rome may be pleasant, and that
the important mission entrusted to you may consolidate relations between the Holy
See and the Republic of the Philippines, to the benefit of all. Through the intercession
of Our Lady of Truth, Justice and Holiness, may God bless the efforts of the authorities
and citizens, so that your nation may walk the way of authentic human progress in
an atmosphere of harmony and peace.