Pope tells new ambassador
Bulgaria has a vital role
in the construction of Europe
Oct. 31, 2009 (RV) - Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin wall as he received the new Bulgarian Ambassador to the Holy See.
Nikola Ivanov KALUDOV, a graduate of the Moscow Diplomatic Academy, was welcomed by the Pope to the Vatican Saturday. No stranger to the eternal city, Ambassador Kaludov’s last posting was to the Italian Republic.
In his message written in French, the Pope recalls John Paul II’s 2002 apostolic visit to Bulgaria which he said gave birth to a new phase in diplomatic relations between the two states.
Pope Benedict notes that this autumn we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall which he says has enabled Bulgaria to choose democracy and return to free and independent relations with the entire European continent.
Located in the heart of the Balkans, Bulgaria is one of the oldest states in Europe, founded in 681. The Pope acknowledged the eastern European nation’s aspirations for increased integration within European Union of which it is a member state since 1 January 2007.
The Pope pointed out that in this process of European construction it is important that individual nations do not sacrifice their own cultural identity, but instead find ways to make it bear good fruit that will enrich the whole community.
Some 85% of the Bulgarian population are Orthodox Christians and 13% Muslims. Around 10% of the population are of Turkish origin while 3% are Roma.
Pope Benedict noted that precisely because of its geographical and cultural situation, Bulgaria has undoubtedly an important role in building peaceful relations between countries which surround it, and in the defence and promotion of human rights.
This concern for the common good of peoples can not be confined to the borders of the continent,- continues the Pope - it is also necessary to pay attention to creating conditions for successful globalization. If it is to be experienced positively it must , indeed serve "the whole man and all men."
In this sense, an authentic development of man and society must include a spiritual dimension.
"The Christian culture that permeates deeply your people is not only a treasure of the past to preserve, but also a guarantee of a really promising future," He said.
The invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the Apostles of the East Saints Cyril and Methodius, sent his blessings and greetings to the Bulgarian people and its leaders.
Here is a translation of the Holy Father's words to the ambassador, delivered in French:
Mr. Ambassador,
I am happy to welcome Your Excellency on this solemn occasion of the presentation of the letters accrediting you as Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Holy See.
I thank you, Mr. Ambassador, for the kind words that you addressed to me. In return, I would be grateful if you would express my cordial wishes to the President of the Republic, Georgi Parvanov, for himself, as well as for the happiness and success of the Bulgarian people.
For my part, I am happy over the good relations between Bulgaria and the Holy See, within the dynamic created by the trip of my predecessor Pope John Paul II to your country in 2002. These relations must be intensified, and I was glad to hear your desire to work ardently to reinforce them and to widen their scope.
This fall, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall which allowed Bulgaria to make the choice for democracy and recovering free and autonomous relations with the rest of the European continent.
I know that your country today is making important efforts towards even stronger integration into the European Union of which it has been a part since January 1, 2007. It is important that in the process of European construction, each people does not sacrifice its own cultural identity, but rather find the means to make it bear good fruit to enrich the entire community.
Because of its geographical and cultural situation, it is particularly fortunate, as you said, that your nation is not only concerned about its own destiny, but that it pays great attention to the countries next to it and is working to promote their relations with the European Union.
Bulgaria undoubtedly has an important role to play in the construction of peaceable relations with the nations which surround it, as well as in the defense and promotion of human rights.
As you have also underscored just now, this concern for the common good of peoples cannot be limited to the frontiers of the Continent. It is also necessary to create the conditions for successful globalization.
In order that this may be lived positively, it must be able to serve all of man and all men. It is this principle that I wished to underscore forcefully in my recent encyclical Caritas in veritate.
Indeed, it is essential that legitimately sought development does not concern only the economic domain, but take into account the integralness of the human being. The measure of man does not reside in what he possesses, but in the blossoming of his being according to all the potentialities hidden in his nature.
This principle finds its ultimate reason in God's love as the Creator, which is fully revealed by the divine Word. In this sense, in order that the development of man and society may be authentic, it must necesasrily involve a spiritual dimension (Nos. 76-77).
It also requires on the part of all piblic authorities a great moral demand on themselves so that they may manage the authority entrusted to them in an effective and disinterested manner.
The Christian culture which profoundly impregnates your people is not just a treasure of the past to be conserved, but also the earnest for a truly promising future in which it will protect men from the temptations that always threaten to make him forget his own greatness as well as the unity of the human species and the exigencies of solidarity that it implies.
Inspired by this intention, the Catholic community in Bulgaria wishes to work for the success of the whole population. This shared concern for the common good constitutes one of the elements which should facilitate the dialog among the many different religious communities which compose the cultural landscape of your ancient nation.
This dialog, in order to be sincere and constructive, requires reciprocal knowledge and esteem that the public authorities could greatly facilitate by the consideration that they themselves have for the different spiritual families.
For its part, the Catholic community expresses its wish to be generously open to everyone and to work with everyone. She demonstrates this concretely through social work whose benefits she does not limit only to her members.
Through you, Mr. Ambasssador, I wish to extend my warm wishes to the bishops, priests, deacons and all the faithful who make up the Catholic community in your country. I call on them to consider the great riches that God, in the extent of his mercy, has placed in the hearts of believers, and for this reason, they can engage themselves with audacity, through a cooperation that is as close as possible with all citizens of good will, in order to prove in all aspects the dignity that God has inscribed within man's being.
As Your Excellency officially begins your functions at the Holy See, I wish you all the best for the happy achievement of your mission. You may be sure, Mr. Ambassador, that you will always find among my co-workers all the attention and cordial understanding that your high function requires, as well as the affection of the Successor of Peter for your country.
Invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary and Saints Cyril and Methodius, I pray the Lord to bestow generous blessings on yourself, your family and your co-workers, as well as on the Bulgarian people and their leaders.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 02/11/2009 04:26]