Pope Benedict XVI’s Discourse to the Ambassador of Guatemala Mr. Alfonso Alberto Matta Fahsen

(February 06, 2010) “The Guatemalan people, with their variety of ethnicities and cultures, are deeply rooted faith in God, a devotion to Mary most holy beloved and faithful love for the Pope and the Church. This corresponds to the narrow and smooth relations Guatemala has long enjoyed with the Holy See, and has achieved special prominence with the creation of the Vatican embassy in Guatemala,” said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing the Ambassador of Guatemala to the Holy See Alfonso Alberto Matta Fahsen on the occasion of the Presentation of Credentials to the Holy See on Saturday, February 6^th in Rome. Expressing his spiritual closeness to those who suffer due to the climate and drought, the Pontiff said that he cannot forget those who suffer the consequences of climatic events that have contributed to increased drought conditions and the loss of crops causing malnutrition and poverty. He expressed gratitude to the magnanimity of donors and volunteers, as well as of all people for their efforts and sacrifices to alleviate the pain, hunger and destitution of the people and in particular the Church in Guatemala, pastors, religious and faithful for contributing their service. Pope Benedict showed his appreciation to the strengthening of a genuine rule of law. This process, he said, should be accompanied by a strong determination, born of personal conversion of heart, to eliminate all forms of corruption in the institutions and bring reform in public administration and justice, eliminate disrespect to the most basic human rights. Therefore, said the Holy Father, “This task of strengthening democracy and political stability has to be constant, and it is essential to advancing development of a real person, which will have positive impact on every area of society, whether economic, cultural, political, territorial or religious.”