ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER PAUL VI
TO THE FIRST AMBASSADOR OF CANADA
TO THE HOLY SEE*

Thursday, 23 April 1970

Mister Ambassador,

It is with warmth and pleasure that We welcome Your Excellency this morning. It is with a special joy that We greet you as the first Ambassador of Canada to the Holy See, and thus see operative the diplomatic relations recently established.
We appreciate the kind words which you have spoken about the role exercised by the Holy See on the international stage. For Our part, We know the contribution made by your great Country in this regard over the years. We are now confident that this new bond that unites us will enable both of us to work more effectively towards those goals of our common interest mentioned by Your Excellency. It is indeed on behalf of all the peoples of the world that our coordinated efforts must be made.

To Your Excellency We extend Our very best wishes for the fulfilment of your mission. We assure you that you will find Us always ready to be of assistance, especially in what concerns world peace. We pray that you will truly render great service to your Country, for which We renew Our best wishes for prosperity and harmonious development.
To Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in whose name you have presented your Letters of Credence go our respectful greetings; we ask Your Excellency to reiterate to the Right Honourable Prime Minister the expression of Our deferential esteem. Upon yourself, your family and the beloved Canadian People We invoke in abundance the blessings of God.

*AAS 62 (1970), p.293.

Insegnamenti di Paolo VI, vol.VIII, p.347.

L'Osservatore Romano, 24.4.1970, p.1.

L’Attività della Santa Sede 1970, p.174-175.

ORa n. 18 p.11.