On Thursday, May 23, 2019, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in the Sala Clementina of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, received new Ambassadors to the Holy See from Thailand, Norway, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Luxembourg, Mozambique and Ethiopia on the occasion of the presentation of their credentials.
The Holy Father respectfully asked the ambassadors to convey to their respective heads of state his sentiments of esteem, and to assure them of his prayers for them and for the people that they serve.
“Taking this opportunity, at the start of your new mission, to acknowledge the variety of positive contributions your nations make to the world’s common good, allow me to make reference to the high responsibility we bear together to protect the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters,” said Pope Francis.
He added that, the pressing need to be attentive to the poorest of fellow citizens is a solemn duty, which is eloquently expressed when respectful of legitimate diversity, all are united in promoting their integral human development. This unity, furthermore, is said to have a concrete name: fraternity!
“As we face increasingly complex global challenges, it is right to underline the importance of fraternity, for striving together to ensure just and peaceful coexistence is not merely a sociopolitical strategy but is an example of that solidarity which runs deeper than a mutual desire to achieve a shared goal,” added Pope Francis.
He further said that such fraternity can be seen in a universal desire for friendship between individuals, communities and nations, though it can never be taken for granted.
Among the greatest threats to harmonious living together are violence and armed conflict, he pointed out.
“Yet the painful lesson of division and hatred also teaches us that peace is always possible. Conflict resolution and reconciliation are positive signs of the unity that is stronger than division and of the fraternity that is more powerful than hatred,” said Pope Francis.
He was deeply encouraging witness of the ongoing efforts of the international community to overcome situations of armed conflict and to forge pathways of peace, and to see how fraternal dialogue is indispensable in achieving this most precious of goals.
Pope Francis assured the ambassadors of the cooperation and support of the various offices of the Holy See.
By Augustus Aikins|Vatican City