An invitation to the Icelandic Government to recognise the wide, essential role of Christianity within the nation was made today by Benedict XVI to the Ambassador of Iceland to the Holy See, Stéfan Làrus Stefànsson, who went to submit his credentials. "The civil and religious leaders recalled the Pontiff can attach great importance to the absolute values and the ideals that are inbred in the dignity of every person. And in so doing they can offer to our youth a future of hope". Then the Pope lingered on the "significant" contribution of Iceland to the world’s development and security in giving support to peacekeeping operations and above all with the Icelandic Crisis Response Unit, and praised the country’s commitment to the defence of the environment and sustainable promotion. "Every irresponsible exploitation of the environment concluded the Pope reflects an inhuman concept of development, the impact of which falls on the poorer countries".
