” “To the new Ambassador of Italy, the Pope expressed the wish that "the cooperation between all the components" of the country "may contribute not only to jealously protecting the cultural and spiritual heritage" that distinguishes it "and that is an integral part of its history, but that it may be even more of a spur to look for new ways to appropriately face the great challenges that mark the post-modern age". They include "the defence of man’s life in all its stages, the protection of all the rights of the person and family, the building of a sympathetic world, the respect of the Creation, intercultural and inter-religious dialogue". In recalling the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which will be celebrated in 2008, Benedict XVI concluded: "Italy, through its recent appointment as a member of the Council for Human Rights and even more through its special tradition of humanity and generosity, cannot help feeling committed to an indefatigable work of peace-building and to the defence of the dignity of the human person and all of its inalienable rights, including the right to religious freedom".” “
