VATICAN - “The people of the Great Lakes region have suffered too much, too long”: Message from Pope Benedict XVI signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, to 2nd session of the international conference on the Great Lakes Region

Tuesday, 19 December 2006

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, through Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., sent a Message to Mwai Kibaki, president of the Republic of Kenya and current president of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which held its second session in Nairobi, Kenya, on December 14 and 15. Heads of State and government from 11 countries in the Great Lakes region attended the session, as did representatives from neighbouring or associated States. The Holy See delegation was led by Archbishop Luigi Travaglino, apostolic nuncio, acting as special envoy. "The present summit," writes Cardinal Bertone in the English-language Message, "is called to take up again the challenge and satisfy the long-suffering populations' yearning for lasting peace by signing and bringing to fulfilment the Pact on Security, Stability and Development.
Benedict XVI, the secretary of State continues, "encourages all the delegations present at this conference to assume courageously their historic responsibility. His prayers will accompany them as they seek to agree upon and put into place the concrete measures that would decisively discourage any recourse to violence, and foster the only rational and human alternative to war: negotiation and dialogue. He is confident that on the basis of a genuine and stable peace, the Great Lakes region with its human and natural resources, and the support of the international community, can overcome its present difficulties and offer its people the genuine hope of a dignified future." The Catholic Church attributes great importance to the values contained in this project to which she has devoted herself tirelessly for many years. His Holiness - the message continues - is confident that the Catholic community will continue to do so with generous zeal in collaboration with members of other religions and all men and women of good will. Taking a responsible part in public life they will give clear expression to one particular form of fraternal charity”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2006 - righe 22; parole 322)


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