ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II
TO H.E. MR TEODORO OBIANG GUEMA MBASOGO
PRESIDENT OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA*

Thursday, 2 December 2004

Mr President,

Your visit affords me an opportunity to send a greeting to the beloved People of Guinea who are present so frequently in my thoughts and prayers.

In your Country, which I had the joy of visiting in 1982, the Church, together with evangelization, developed with the means available her generous activity in education, health care and the advancement of the most needy. Inspired by the Gospel, all she desires is to serve the promotion of human dignity in a suitable atmosphere of freedom, cooperation, reconciliation, understanding and respect that will allow her peacefully and fruitfully to fulfil her spiritual and humanitarian mission.

I would also like this meeting to contribute to cordial and serene relations and understanding between the public Authorities and the Christian community, and to benefit all the citizens in their desire to improve their standard of living so that they may find fulfilment as persons and as children of God.

As I thank you for your visit, I offer you my best wishes for all the People of Guinea and invoke upon them an abundance of divine Blessings that will encourage them in their hopes and legitimate aspirations.

*L'Osservatore Romano. Weekly Edition in English n.50 p.8.

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