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ADDRESS OF H.E. MR AMITAVA TRIPATHI
NEW AMBASSADOR OF THE
REPUBLIC OF INDIA
TO HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Clementine Hall
Thursday, 18 May 2006

 

Your Holiness,

            I have the honour to present the Letter of Recall of my predecessor and the Letter by which His Excellency the President of the Republic of India has been pleased to accredit me as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of my country to the Holy See.

            At the outset, I would like to convey to Your Holiness the renewed felicitations of the Government and the people of India to your appointment to this high office last year and to convey to you our expectation that under your supreme leadership, the Holy See would continue to be a beacon of hope for the whole world.

            It is a matter of great satisfaction that the diplomatic relations between India and the Holy See, established more than half a century ago have been strengthening over the years. Your much esteemed predecessor, His Holiness Pope John Paul II's visit to India in November 1999 had infused a new strength in our bilateral relationship, besides providing a great opportunity to exchange view-points on issues of common concern. Indeed, the Indian people as a whole cherished the visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, one of the most charismatic figures in the millennial history of the Roman Catholic Church.

            Respect for all religious beliefs and traditions has always been an import hallmark of my country, which has given birth to a number of major religions of the world and where other major religions of the world have subsequently found home. Indeed, but for the immense tolerance of India towards social diversity, multi-ethnicity, multi-lingualism and pluralism, some of the world's ancient civilizations and cultures would have simply disappeared. Few countries in the world can claim this level of tolerance and human understanding.

            Your Holiness, Christianity in India goes back right to the very first century of its existence when one of Christ's own Apostles St Thomas landed on our western coast in AD 52. We also celebrate this year the 500th birth anniversary of St Francis Xavier of Navarre, who had contributed immensely to the spiritual and educational life of India and whose mortal remains lie today in the Church of Bom Jesus in Goa. Educational institutions established in India after this great Saint's name continue to play an immensely important role in our human development.

            Your Holiness, our firm commitment to religious tolerance and peace is deeply rooted in India's culture and we shall continue to work to achieve our ideal of one universal family. It will remain our constant endeavour to promote mutual respect and peaceful co-existence among the peoples and nations of the world. We strongly believe that no problem is too great as to be incapable of being resolved through peaceful dialogue and also that co-existence and cooperation are always to be preferred over contention and confrontation.

            Your Holiness, in conclusion, I would like to thank you sincerely for the kind and gracious manner in which you have received me today. I would also like to take this opportunity to assure you that I am fully committed to promoting and strengthening the mutual understanding as well as the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Holy See and India.

            Thank you.

 

 

 
 

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