Vatican City (Fides Service) - Respect for human life and the search for world peace were the main themes underlined by Pope John Paul II when he received seven new ambassadors to the Holy See on December 13 in the Vatican. "One cannot help but notice that today a certain eclipse of the sense of God has resulted in an eclipse of the sense of the transcendence of man and of the intrinsic dignity of human life. Caught within the narrow confines of a materialistic outlook on reality, which easily leads to absorption with self and a utilitarian approach to living, people sometimes fail to recognise the nature of life as a gift, a gift which finds its genuine meaning and purpose in openness to the truth of its origin in God and in the exercise of wholehearted solidarity with other human beings" the Pope told the Ambassadors of Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Madagascar, Jamaica, India, Ghana, and Norway. He also voiced concern for widespread poverty which threatens political, economic and social balance "it is necessary to recognise the right of every person to be able to enjoy part of national riches" the Pope told the Ambassadors. See various addresses. (Fides Service 16/12/2002)