Iranian President receives letter from Pope

The President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who is visiting Tehran, met on Tuesday with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, delivering to him a message from Pope Benedict XVI.

In his letter, written in response to a message sent to him by the vice president of Iran, the Pope expresses his "profound conviction that respect for the transcendent dimension of the human person is an indispensable condition for the construction of a just social order and a stable peace. Indeed, the relationship with God is the ultimate foundation for the inalienable dignity and sacred character of every human life”.

The Holy Father writes "when the promotion of the dignity of the human person is the primary inspiration of political and social activity that is committed to search for the common good, solid and enduring foundations are created for building peace and harmony between peoples".

He concludes :"the Catholics present in Iran and those around the world make efforts to collaborate with their fellow citizens to contribute loyally and honestly to the common good of the respective societies in which they live, becoming builders of peace and reconciliation".