4-June-2004 -- Vatican Information Service
Mr. President,
1. I offer a warm welcome to you and to Mrs. Bush, and to the distinguished
Delegation accompanying you. I also extend a cordial and affectionate greeting
to all the people of the United States whom you represent. I thank you for
wishing to meet with me again, in spite of the difficulties presented by your
own many commitments during this present visit to Europe and Italy, and by my
own departure tomorrow morning for a meeting with young people in Switzerland.
2. You are visiting Italy to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the
liberation of Rome and to honor the memory of the many American soldiers who
gave their lives for their country and for the freedom of the peoples of Europe.
I join you in recalling the sacrifice of those valiant dead and in asking the
Lord that the mistakes of the past, which gave rise to appalling tragedies, may
never again be repeated. Today I too think back with great emotion on the many
Polish soldiers who died for the freedom of Europe.
Our thoughts also turn today to the twenty years in which the Holy See and
the United States have enjoyed formal diplomatic relations, established in 1984
under President Reagan. These relations have promoted mutual understanding on
great issues of common interest and practical cooperation in different areas. I
send my regards to President Reagan and to Mrs. Reagan, who is so attentive to
him in his illness. I would also like to express my esteem for all the
Representatives of the United States to the Holy See, together with my
appreciation for the competence, sensitivity and great commitment with which
they have favored the development of our relations.
3. Mr. President, your visit to Rome takes place at a moment of great concern
for the continuing situation of grave unrest in the Middle East, both in Iraq
and in the Holy Land. You are very familiar with the unequivocal position of the
Holy See in this regard, expressed in numerous documents, through direct and
indirect contacts, and in the many diplomatic efforts which have been made since
you visited me, first at Castelgandolfo on 23 July 2001, and again in this
Apostolic Palace on 28 May 2002.
4. It is the evident desire of everyone that this situation now be normalized
as quickly as possible with the active participation of the international
community and, in particular, the United Nations Organization, in order to
ensure a speedy return of Iraq’s sovereignty, in conditions of security for
all its people. The recent appointment of a Head of State in Iraq and the
formation of an interim Iraqi government are an encouraging step towards the
attainment of this goal. May a similar hope for peace also be rekindled in the
Holy Land and lead to new negotiations, dictated by a sincere and determined
commitment to dialogue, between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian
Authority.
5. The threat of international terrorism remains a source of constant
concern. It has seriously affected normal and peaceful relations between States
and peoples since the tragic date of 11 September 2001, which I have not
hesitated to call "a dark day in the history of humanity". In the past
few weeks other deplorable events have come to light which have troubled the
civic and religious conscience of all, and made more difficult a serene and
resolute commitment to shared human values: in the absence of such a commitment
neither war nor terrorism will ever be overcome. May God grant strength and
success to all those who do not cease to hope and work for understanding between
peoples, in respect for the security and rights of all nations and of every man
and woman.
6. At the same time, Mr. President, I take this opportunity to acknowledge
the great commitment of your Government and of your nation’s numerous
humanitarian agencies, particularly those of Catholic inspiration, to overcoming
the increasingly intolerable conditions in various African countries, where the
suffering caused by fratricidal conflicts, pandemic illnesses and a degrading
poverty can no longer be overlooked.
I also continue to follow with great appreciation your commitment to the
promotion of moral values in American society, particularly with regard to
respect for life and the family.
7. A fuller and deeper understanding between the United States of America and
Europe will surely play a decisive role in resolving the great problems which I
have mentioned, as well as so many others confronted by humanity today. May your
visit, Mr. President, give new and powerful impetus to such cooperation.
Mr. President, as you carry out your lofty mission of service to your nation
and to world peace, I assure you of my prayers and cordially invoke upon you
God’s blessings of wisdom, strength and peace.
May God bestow peace and freedom upon all mankind!
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AFTER RECIEVING THE "PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM"
I am grateful, Mr. President, for this thoughtful gesture.
May the desire for freedom, peace and a more humane world symbolized by this
medal inspire men and women of good will in every time and place.
God bless America!