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Skriven 2005-03-10 10:27:06 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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              The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                        Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

GEORGIA: CREATING BALANCE BETWEEN UNITY AND DIVERSITY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 9, 2005 (VIS) - The new ambassador from Georgia to the Holy
See, Princess Khetevane Bagration de Moukhrani, presented her Letters of
Credence this morning to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, who
received her in the Vatican, in the name of the Holy Father, whose speech of
welcome he read. "I am very sorry," began the Pope's remarks, "that, because of
my convalescence, I am not able to receive you personally to express my best
wishes at the moment you are starting your mission."

John Paul II highlighted his pastoral trip to Georgia in 1999 and the nation's
"rich Christian patrimony. ... I firmly believe that the spiritual and cultural
values present in the tradition of the Georgian people will not fail to play an
important role in promoting a new flourishing of civilization on the roots of
Georgia's Christian past and in favoring the consolidation of a society worthy
of your noble nation."

The Pope said that "on the path to independence and national rebuilding,
Georgia has had to face many and often difficult challenges. ... In addition to
the difficult task of setting up robust political and economic structures,
Georgians have had to face the duty of keeping firm the sense of unity, while
also being open to the broader European and international community" He said
that meeting these challenges is only possible "thanks to a wise and prudent
equilibrium between the exigencies of unity and respect for legitimate
diversity."

What is needed, said the Pope, "is to develop a solid model of unity in
diversity, firmly anchored in the historical experience that is proper to the
country, but open at the same time to the enrichment that comes from dialogue
and cooperation with others."

He underscored that the Catholic Church, even though a minority in Georgia, is
anxious "to make her own contribution to the spiritual rebirth of the Nation
and to the progress of the common good, not only in realizing her specific
religious mission but also through her involvement in works of charity and in
promoting cultural exchanges and educational opportunities that favor young
people, who are the future of Georgia."

"Today, more than ever," concluded the Pope's message to the ambassador,
"believers are called to join forces to lay solid bases for an authentic social
renewal, thus contributing to forming consciences on the paths of peace and
respect for the inviolable dignity and the rights of every person."
CD/LETTERS CREDENCE/GEORGIA:BAGRATIONVIS 050309 (400)

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