Pope receives new Belgian ambassador

(April 24, 2010) Human life and dignity are a precious good, and in order to safeguard mankind, whose fragility is evident from disasters, what is needed is a genuine social cohesion that does not undermine the legitimate diversity of opinions. Pope Benedict XVI made the remark to Belgium’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Charles Ghislain (Ghilen), who presented his credentials to the Pontiff at ceremony in the Vatican on Saturday. The Holy Father recalled Belgium’s two recent disasters – the collapse of a five-story apartment building in Liege in January and a train accident in Buizingen in March, for which he offered his condolences. The Pope’s reference to human life and dignity became particularly relevant in the case of Belgium that legalized euthanasia in 2002, the second nation to do so after the Netherlands. The Pope said, that “human life and dignity are a precious good which according to natural law must be resolutely defended and promoted.” He said, the Church, which fully forms the history and social fabric of Belgium, and whose aim is the common good, does not demand anything except that it be allowed to exercise its right to express its opinion on matters of common interest without imposing it on anyone, respecting the freedom of conscience.