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CENTRAL AMERICA |
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Pope
Encourages Panama To Continue Working For
Equality, Moral Stability
(CNA).- In a meeting today with Panama's new
ambassador to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI
called on the country to work for equality
among its peoples and to build a society
based on stable moral virtues.
The Pope spoke to Ambassador Delia Cardenas
Christie acknowledging that Panama’s
identity, “which for centuries has been
forged as a mosaic of ethnicities, peoples,
and cultures, presents itself as an eloquent
sign to the human family that peaceful co-
existence between persons of diverse origins
in a climate of communion and cooperation is
possible.”
Having noted Panama's existence as a diverse
but cooperative nation, the Pope encouraged
the Central American country to continue
working toward “greater social, economic,
and cultural equality between the distinct
sectors of society. He explained that this
could be done by “renouncing selfish
interests, strengthening solidarity, and
reconciling wills.”
Pope Benedict also praised the efforts of
Panamanian authorities “in strengthening
democratic institutions and public life
rooted upon strong ethical pillars.”
“In this respect they have spared no efforts
to promote an efficient and independent
juridical system and to act in all areas
with honor, transparency in community
activism, and professionalism and diligence
in resolving the problems affecting the
citizens.” The Pope implied such actions
“will favor the development of a just and
fraternal society in which no sector of the
population is forgotten or doomed to
violence or marginalization"
Benedict XVI also dwelt on the Church's role
in Panama, which has “played an essential
and constructive role in shaping Panama's
identity, forming part of the nation's
spiritual patrimony and cultural heritage.”
The Church in Panama has been particularly
relevant in education, and assistance to the
poor, sick, weak, imprisoned. It has also
worked for the defense of life and marriage,
fought corruption, and worked towards peace.
All of the actions, the Pope noted, “are
irreplaceable elements for creating a
healthy social fabric and building a dynamic
society, precisely because of the stability
of the moral values sustaining, ennobling,
and dignifying it.”
Benedict XVI concluded by emphasizing that
the advancement of society depends on an
abundance of “persons with inner
righteousness, faultless conduct, and the
resolute will to work toward the common
good, and who also impart to further
generations a true humanism, sown within the
family and cultivated at school so that the
welfare of the nation be the fruit of the
fundamental growth of the person and of all
persons.”
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