Hello All!
                This Area is READ ONLY.  Do not post to this area.
                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

LETTER FROM THE HOLY FATHER TO THE PRESIDENT OF IRAN

VATICAN CITY, 11 NOV 2010 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Benedict
XVI addressed to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of the Islamic Republic of
Iran. The Letter was delivered by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the
Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, during a meeting with
President Ahmadinejad on 9 November in Tehran.

In his Letter, written in response to a message sent to him by the vice
president of Iran, the Pope expresses his "profound conviction that respect for
the transcendent dimension of the human person is an indispensable condition
for the construction of a just social order and a stable peace. Indeed, the
relationship with God is the ultimate foundation for the inalienable dignity
and sacred character of every human life.

"When the promotion of the dignity of the human person is the primary
inspiration of political and social activity that is committed to search for
the common good, solid and enduring foundations are created for building peace
and harmony between peoples", the Pope adds.

"The Catholics present in Iran and those around the world make efforts to
collaborate with their fellow citizens to contribute loyally and honestly to
the common good of the respective societies in which they live, becoming
builders of peace and reconciliation".
BXVI-LETTER/VIS 20101111 (220)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21