Pope Benedict yesterday personally welcomed Australia's new ambassador to the Vatican, former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer. Ninemsn reports the Pope met the former deputy prime minister during a short ceremony at the Vatican in Rome on Thursday to mark his official appointment as Australia's first resident ambassador to the Holy See.
"With vivid memories of my recent visit to your beautiful country, I assure you of my prayers for the country's wellbeing and in particular I wish to send my condolences to the grieving individuals and families in Victoria who have lost loved ones in the recent bushfires," the Pope told Mr Fischer.
Mr Fischer, a former leader of the Nationals, was appointed to the newly created diplomatic post by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in July last year while the Pope was in Australia for the World Youth Day event.
At the Vatican, the Pope told Mr Fischer his posting marked a "new stage in our diplomatic relations and provides an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding and to extend our already significant collaboration.""The Church's engagement with civil society is anchored in her conviction that human progress, whether as individuals or communities. is dependent upon the recognition of the supernatural vocation proper to every person," the pope told Mr Fischer.
The Pope noted the success of World Youth Day.
"I pray that this young generation of Christians in Australia and throughout the world will channel their enthusiasm for all that is true and good into forging friendships across divides and creating places of living faith in and for our world."
"Cultural diversity brings much richness to the social fabric of Australia today. For decades that collage was tarnished by the injustices so painfully endured by the indigenous peoples.
"Through the apology offered last year by Prime Minister Rudd, a profound change of heart has been affirmed. Now, renewed in the spirit of reconciliation, both government agencies and aboriginal elders can address with resolution and compassion the plethora of challenges that lie ahead."
Pope Benedict also praised Australia's "active support of the Millennium Development Goals, numerous regional partnerships, and initiatives to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."
He also highlighted Australia's readiness "to respond to a growing variety of exigencies in a principled, responsible and innovative manner."
"Not least of these are the menacing threats to God's creation itself through climate change. Perhaps more than ever before in our human history the fundamental relationship between Creator, Creation and Creature needs to be pondered and respected," the pope said.
However, the Pope noted his concern about how some of those countries still allowed abortions.
"How ironic it is, however, when some groups, through aid programs, promote abortion as a form of maternal healthcare: taking a life, purportedly to improve the quality of life," he said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: CTHN)