FINAL HOLY
SEE - US JOINT STATEMENT
Oval Office of the White House
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
At the end of the private
meeting between the Holy Father Benedict XVI and U.S. President George W. Bush,
the Holy See and the Office of the President of the United States of America
released a joint declaration:
President Bush, on behalf of
all Americans, welcomed the Holy Father, wished him a happy birthday, and
thanked him for the spiritual and moral guidance, which he offers to the whole
human family. The President wished the Pope every success in his Apostolic Journey and in his address
at the United Nations, and expressed appreciation for the Pope’s upcoming visit
to "Ground Zero" in New York.
During their meeting, the Holy
Father and the President discussed a number of topics of common interest to the
Holy See and the United States of America, including moral and religious
considerations to which both parties are committed: the respect of the dignity of
the human person; the defense and promotion of life, matrimony and the family;
the education of future generations; human rights and religious freedom;
sustainable development and the struggle against poverty and pandemics,
especially in Africa. In regard to the latter, the Holy Father welcomed the
United States’ substantial financial contributions in this area. The two
reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism as well as the manipulation of
religion to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents. They further
touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect
the human person and his or her rights.
The Holy Father and the
President devoted considerable time in their discussions to the Middle East, in
particular resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict in line with the vision of
two states living side-by-side in peace and security, their mutual support for
the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, and their common concern for the
situation in Iraq and particularly the precarious state of Christian
communities there and elsewhere in the region. The Holy Father and the
President expressed hope for an end to violence and for a prompt and
comprehensive solution to the crises which afflict the region.
The Holy Father and the
President also considered the situation in Latin America with reference, among
other matters, to immigrants, and the need for a coordinated policy regarding
immigration, especially their humane treatment and the well being of their
families.
©
Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana