Pope tells new diplomats human rights needed for lasting peace

Published: 2008-05-29

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Respect for human rights, negotiated settlements to conflicts and improved education are essential ingredients for consolidating peace and promoting development, Pope Benedict XVI told nine new ambassadors to the Vatican. The pope May 29 welcomed new ambassadors from Tanzania, Uganda, Liberia, Chad, Bangladesh, Belarus, Guinea, Sri Lanka and Nigeria. In addition to making a brief speech to the entire group, Pope Benedict handed each ambassador a message addressed to that country. In his message to Sri Lankan Ambassador Tikiri Bandara Maduwegedera, the pope asked the government to ensure that its new commission for investigating claims of human rights abuses works seriously and quickly "so that the truth about all of these cases may come to light." The pope expressed particular concern about Father Thiruchelvam Nihal Jim Brown and his assistant, "whose whereabouts are still unknown, almost two years after their disappearance."

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