Pope praises Kuwait for its efforts to promote democracy, dialogue

Published: 2007-12-13

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Children must be educated in moral values, in their own religious and cultural heritage and in respect for the religious beliefs of others, Pope Benedict XVI said. Welcoming Suhail Khalil Shuhaiber as Kuwait's new ambassador to the Vatican Dec. 13, the pope praised Kuwait for its efforts to promote democracy, human rights and dialogue within its borders and throughout the Middle East. After the country's 1990 invasion by Iraq and a seven-month occupation, Kuwait has continued "to play an important role in the delicate process of reconciliation which offers the only sure hope for a resolution of the many complex problems affecting the Middle East," the pope said. "Interreligious and intercultural dialogue for the promotion of peace," especially between Christians and Muslims, is "essential for overcoming misunderstandings and forging solid relations marked by mutual respect and cooperation in the pursuit of the common good of the whole human family," the pope said.

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