Vatican City, Oct 30, 2009 / 09:47 am
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.”