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Pope to Iran: "Greater Collaboration, More Religious Freedom"
29-10-2009
(29 Oct 09 - RV) The universal human rights of freedom of conscience and of religion as well as the conditions of the centuries old Catholic communities in Iran were the main focus of Pope Benedict XVI's address to the new Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Holy See.
Pope Benedict XVI received Mr Ali Akbar Naseri, an expert in theological studies and advisor to President Ahmadinejad on Islamic Law, Thursday in the Apostolic Palace.
In his discourse in French, Pope Benedict said that his very presence is a sign of the Islamic Republic's interest in the development of good relations with the Holy See.
"Today", he added "we must all hope and support a new phase of international cooperation, [that is] more firmly based on humanitarian principles and effective aid to those who suffer [and] less dependent on cold calculations of exchanges and technical and economic benefits".
"Faith in God" said Pope Benedict "must bring all believers together and encourage them to work to defend and promote basic human values". "Among the universal human rights, religious freedom and freedom of conscience are a fundamental, because they are the foundation of other freedoms".
The Pope said good inter-faith relations are an urgent need of our time if we are to build a more humane society. Here the Pope welcomed the work of the regular meetings organized jointly by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Organization for Culture and Islamic Relations.
On the other hand, he also noted the conditions of Catholics in Iran.
"Present since the early centuries of Christianity ...they have always been an integral part of life and culture of the nation". "This community is truly Iranian" the Pope said, adding that "The Holy See has confidence that the Iranian authorities will strengthen and guarantee the freedom of Christians to profess their faith and provide the Catholic community the essential conditions for its existence, including the possibility of having adequate facilities and a religious personnel free to travel in the country to service pastoral needs of the faithful".
Pope Benedict urged the development of "a sincere and trustful dialogue" with the country's institutions to improve the situation of Christian communities and their activities in the context of civil society.
The Pope said he remains "close to all the faithful" in Iran "and prays for them so that while maintaining their identity and remaining committed to their land, they collaborate generously with all their compatriots in the development of the nation".
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=330351
