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Pope John Paul II sent a telegram to
President George W. Bush.
"I hurry to express to you and
your fellow citizens my profound sorrow and my closeness in prayer for the
nation at this dark and tragic moment"
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO THE HOLY SEE
Thursday, 13 September 2001
Mr. Ambassador,
I am pleased to accept the Letters of
Credence appointing you Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America to the Holy See. You are beginning your
mission at a moment of immense tragedy for your country. At this time of
national mourning for the victims of the terrorist attacks on Washington
and New York, I wish to assure you personally of my profound participation
in the grief of the American people and of my heartfelt prayers for the
President and the civil authorities, for all involved in the rescue
operations and in helping the survivors, and in a special way for the
victims and their families. I pray that this inhuman act will awaken in
the hearts of all the world’s peoples a firm resolve to reject the ways
of violence, to combat everything that sows hatred and division within the
human family, and to work for the dawn of a new era of international
cooperation inspired by the highest ideals of solidarity, justice and
peace.
In my recent meeting with President Bush I
emphasized my deep esteem for the rich patrimony of human, religious and
moral values which have historically shaped the American character. I
expressed the conviction that America’s continued moral leadership in
the world depends on her fidelity to her founding principles. Underlying
your nation’s commitment to freedom, self-determination and equal
opportunity are universal truths inherited from its religious roots. From
these spring respect for the sanctity of life and the dignity of each
human person made in the image and likeness of the Creator; shared
responsibility for the common good; concern for the education of young
people and for the future of society; and the need for wise stewardship of
the natural resources so freely bestowed by a bounteous God. In facing the
challenges of the future, America is called to cherish and live out the
deepest values of her national heritage: solidarity and cooperation
between peoples; respect for human rights; the justice that is the
indispensable condition for authentic freedom and lasting peace.
In the century now opening before us,
humanity has the opportunity to make great strides against some of its
traditional enemies: poverty, disease, violence. As I said at the United
Nations in 1995, it is within our grasp to see that a century of tears,
the 20th century, is followed in the 21st century by a "springtime of
the human spirit". The possibilities before the human family are
immense, although they are not always apparent in a world in which too
many of our brothers and sisters are suffering from hunger, malnutrition
and the lack of access to medical care and to education, or are burdened
by unjust government, armed conflict, forced displacement and new forms of
human bondage. In seizing the available opportunities, both vision and
generosity are necessary, especially on the part of those who have been
blessed with freedom, wealth and an abundance of resources. The urgent
ethical issues raised by the division between those who benefit from the
globalization of the world economy and those who are excluded from those
benefits call for new and creative responses on the part of the whole
international community. Here I would emphasize again what I said in my
recent meeting with President Bush, that the revolution of freedom in the
world must be completed by a "revolution of opportunity" which
will enable all the members of the human family to enjoy a dignified
existence and to share in the benefits of a truly global development.
In this context, I cannot but mention,
among so many disturbing situations throughout the world, the tragic
violence which continues to affect the Middle East and which seriously
jeopardizes the peace process begun in Madrid. Thanks also to the
commitment of the United States, that process had given rise to hope in
the hearts of all those who look to the Holy Land as a unique place of
encounter and prayer between peoples. I am certain that your country will
not hesitate to promote a realistic dialogue which will enable the parties
involved to achieve security, justice and peace, in full respect for human
rights and international law.
Mr. Ambassador, the vision and the moral
strength which America is being challenged to exercise at the beginning of
a new century and in a rapidly changing world call for an acknowledgment
of the spiritual roots of the crisis which the Western democracies are
experiencing, a crisis characterized by the advance of a materialistic,
utilitarian and ultimately dehumanized world view which is tragically
detached from the moral foundations of Western civilization. In order to
survive and prosper, democracy and its accompanying economic and political
structures must be directed by a vision whose core is the God-given
dignity and inalienable rights of every human being, from the moment of
conception until natural death. When some lives, including those of the
unborn, are subjected to the personal choices of others, no other value or
right will long be guaranteed, and society will inevitably be governed by
special interests and convenience. Freedom cannot be sustained in a
cultural climate that measures human dignity in strictly utilitarian
terms. Never has it been more urgent to re-invigorate the moral vision and
resolve essential to maintaining a just and free society.
In this context my thoughts turn to
America’s young people, the hope of the nation. In my Pastoral Visits to
the United States, and above all in my visit to Denver in 1993 for the
celebration of World Youth Day, I was able personally to witness the
reserves of generosity and good will present in the youth of your country.
Young people are surely your nation’s greatest treasure. That is why
they urgently need an all-round education which will enable them to reject
cynicism and selfishness and to grow into their full stature as informed,
wise and morally responsible members of the community. At the beginning of
a new Millennium, young people must be given every opportunity to take up
their role as "craftsmen of a new humanity, where brothers and
sisters – members all of the same family – are able at last to live in
peace" (Message for the 2001 World Day of Peace, 22).
Mr. Ambassador, as you begin your mission
as your country’s representative to the Holy See, I reiterate my hope
that in facing the challenges of the present and future the American
people will draw upon the deep spiritual and moral resources which have
inspired and guided the nation’s growth, and which remain the surest
pledge of its greatness. I am confident that America’s Catholic
community, which has historically played a crucial role in the education
of a responsible citizenry and in the relief of the poor, the sick and the
needy, will be actively present in the process of discerning the shape of
your country’s future course. Upon you and your family and all the
American people I cordially invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace.
Source: The Vatican
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