Pope prods Iranian ambassador on international cooperation, religious freedom
October 29, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI met on October 29 with a new ambassador from Iran to the Holy See, and called for "a greater openness and confident collaboration with the international community." Although the Pope did not specifically mention Iran's nuclear program, his message seemed clearly to point toward the need to defuse tensions about the prospect of nuclear proliferation.
The Holy Father reminded the new envoy, Ali Akbar Naseri, that Christians have lived in Iran for 2000 years. "The Holy See trusts the Iranian authorities to strengthen and guarantee Christians the freedom of professing their faith," he said. The Pontiff added that "among universal rights, religious freedom and the freedom of conscience occupy a fundamental place because they are the origin of all other freedoms."
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