A harsh condemnation of terrorism, a heart-felt appeal for the right to free religion to be respected "everywhere"; a request for forgiveness as the essential way to build peace; a look at "humanitarian emergencies": hunger, migration, poverty. These are the subjects that were addressed this morning by Pope Benedict XVI, who met in the Vatican the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See for the usual exchange of New Year wishes. In his speech, the Pope resumed the message of the World Peace Day, which this year focussed on the message "In truth, peace", and presented to the ambassadors some "simple statements" taken just from this subject: "Commitment to truth is the soul of justice"; "it gives grounds and strength to the right of freedom"; "it opens the way to forgiveness and reconciliation"; "it opens up to new hopes". "Peace said the Pope as we painfully acknowledge, is still hindered and threatened in many parts of the world". The Church and the Diplomatic Corps are united "in a common mission", that of spreading peace. The Pope said: "It never stops throwing new, dreadful challenges at us. Nevertheless, we face them with confidence, in the willingness to support each other, each one through one’s own task, towards great common goals".
