Pope received new ambassador of Costa Rica

(December 3, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday welcomed Costa’s New ambassador to the Holy see, Fernando Felipe Sànchez, and urged the central American nation in its fight against social plagues such as impunity, juvenile crime, child labour, injustice and drug trafficking. The Pope also encouraged the nation to promote security for its citizens, adequate education for children and young people, care for convicts and effective health care for everyone, especially the poor and elderly. The Pope wished “the new generations will come to believe that conflicts are not won through mere strength but by converting one’s heart to goodness and truth, putting an end to poverty and illiteracy, strengthening the constitutional state and reviving the independence and effectiveness of the courts and justice”. But in all these “a stable family union” is important he stressed. He hoped that Costa Rica will not infringe the rights of unborn children with laws that legalize in-vitro fertilisation and abortion. The Pope told Felipe Sanchez that he prayed for his people when they were recently hit by torrential rains.