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Former address to President
G.W.Bush
May God give peace and freedom to all
humanity
On Friday, 4 June, the Holy
Father received in the Vatican's Clementine Hall Mr George W. Bush,
President of the United States of America, together with his wife, Mrs
Laura Bush, and entourage. The Pope recalled the 60th anniversary of the
liberation of Rome and of the many American soldiers "who gave their lives
for their Country and for the freedom of the peoples of Europe". These
mistakes must not be repeated, the Pope emphasized; therefore, a greater
understanding between peoples is necessary for a future of hope and peace.
The following is the Holy Father's Address to President Bush.
Mr President,
1. I offer a warm welcome
to you and to Mrs Bush, and to the distinguished Delegation
accompanying you. I also extend a cordial and affectionate greeting to all
the people of the United States whom you represent. I thank you for
wishing to meet with me again, in spite of the difficulties presented by
your own many commitments during this present visit to Europe and Italy,
and by my own departure tomorrow morning for a meeting with young people
in Switzerland.
Honour the memory of soldiers
2. You are visiting Italy to
commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Rome and to
honour the memory of the many American soldiers who gave their lives
for their Country and for the freedom of the peoples of Europe. I join you
in recalling the sacrifice of those valiant dead and in asking the Lord
that the mistakes of the past, which gave rise to appalling tragedies, may
never again be repeated. Today I too think back with great emotion on the
many Polish soldiers who died for the freedom of Europe.
Our thoughts also turn today
to the 20 years in which the Holy See and the United States have enjoyed
formal diplomatic relations, established in 1984 under President Reagan.
These relations have promoted mutual understanding on great issues of
common interest and practical cooperation in different areas. I send my
regards to President Reagan and to Mrs Reagan, who is so attentive to him
in his illness. I would also like to express my esteem for all the
Representatives of the United States to the Holy See, together with my
appreciation for the competence, sensitivity and great commitment with
which they have favoured the development of our relations.
Concern for the Middle East
3. Mr President, your visit
to Rome takes place at a moment of great concern for the continuing
situation of grave unrest in the Middle East, both in Iraq and in the Holy
Land. You are very familiar with the unequivocal position of the Holy See
in this regard, expressed in numerous Documents, through direct and
indirect contacts, and in the many diplomatic efforts which have been made
since you visited me, first at Castel Gandolfo on 23 July 2001, and again
in this Apostolic Palace on 28 May 2002.
Secure conditions in Iraq
4. It is the evident desire
of everyone that this situation now be normalized as quickly as possible
with the active participation of the international community and,
in particular, the United Nations Organization, in order to ensure a
speedy return of Iraq's sovereignty, in conditions of security for all its
people. The recent appointment of a Head of State in Iraq and the
formation of an interim Iraqi government are an encouraging step towards
the attainment of this goal. May a similar hope for peace also be
rekindled in the Holy Land and lead to new negotiations, dictated by a
sincere and determined commitment to dialogue, between the Government of
Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Threat of international terrorism
5. The threat of
international terrorism remains a source of constant concern. It has
seriously affected normal and peaceful relations between States and
peoples since the tragic date of 11 September 2001, which I have not
hesitated to call "a dark day in the history of humanity". In the past few
weeks other deplorable events have come to light which have troubled the
civic and religious conscience of all, and made more difficult a serene
and resolute commitment to shared human values: in the absence of such a
commitment neither war nor terrorism will ever be overcome. May God grant
strength and success to all those who do not cease to hope and work for
understanding between peoples, in respect for the security and rights of
all nations and of every man and woman.
Harsh conditions in Africa
6. At the same time, Mr
President, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the great commitment of
your Government and of your Nation's numerous humanitarian agencies,
particularly those of Catholic inspiration, to overcoming the
increasingly intolerable conditions in various African countries,
where the suffering caused by fratricidal conflicts, pandemic illnesses
and a degrading poverty can no longer be overlooked.
I also continue to follow
with great appreciation your commitment to the promotion of moral
values in American society, particularly with regard to respect for
life and the family.
7. A fuller and deeper
understanding between the United States of America and Europe will
surely play a decisive role in resolving the great problems which I
have mentioned, as well as so many others confronted by humanity today.
May your visit, Mr President, give new and powerful impetus to such
cooperation.
Mr President, as you carry
out your lofty mission of service to your Nation and to world peace, I
assure you of my prayers and cordially invoke upon you God's Blessings of
wisdom, strength and peace.
May God bestow peace and
freedom upon all mankind!
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