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Domáce prejavy - 11. 9. 2003 Úvodná stránka > Aktuality a prehlady > Prejavy a vystúpenia > Domáce prejavy prezidenta SR Speech Held by the President of the Slovak Republic Rudolf Schuster at the Welcoming Ceremony for His Holiness Pope John Paul II. During His Official Visit to the Slovak Republic Bratislava, September 11, 2003 Prejav prezidenta Slovenskej republiky Rudolfa Schustera pri privítaní Jeho Svätosti pápeža Jána Pavla II. na oficiálnej návšteve Slovenskej republiky Bratislava 11. 9. 2003, anglická verzia Your Holiness, Your Eminencies, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Dear Ladies and Dear Gentlemen! It is with great joy in my heart that, on behalf of all the people, on behalf of the representatives of the highest public authorities, as well as on my own behalf, I welcome in Slovakia a very special guest whom we meet with sincere kindliness and whom we all hold in the highest of espect and admiration the Holy Father John Paul II. Your Holiness, this is not your first time to Slovakia. The timing of this third visit of yours is particularly fortuitous since it comes only a little more than a month before the upcoming twenty fifth anniversary of your pontificate. Your two previous visits still remain deeply etched in our hearts. We thank you that you have once again decided to bring the message of hope to the people who live in this land below the Tatra Mountains, this land that you know so well and that is so close to your heart. Your first visit in 1990 was marked by the "watershed" changes in our political system which, in turn, changed the face of our nation. Later, in 1995, you came again to give strength to the people of an independent Slovak Republic, to the people of a country that had, by then, already acquired its own statehood and was determined to come to grips with the legacies of its past and to face the challenges that lay ahead of it. Today, you come into our midst to once again imbue our hearts with hope, love and repentance the values that you have revered and upheld all your life. Since your last visit, much has changed in our country, democracy has become more robust and many issues, that were once shrouded in doubt, have now taken on a clear shape. In the Jubilee Year 2000, there was one particular document - the Concordat - that laid the foundation for our mutual relations and reaffirmed Slovakia's principal orientation in respect of the Holy See. By expressing our position in a unified and cohesive manner, it also gives our relations a solid footing that we may build on as we go forward. It is of equal importance that the Concordat is endorsed and respected across the entire ecumenical community. To this day, I have a vivid recollection of the positive response that your Holiness received when meeting with members of the local clergy and religious organizations, whom I had the honor to have with me as participants in our National Pilgrimage to the Vatican in the year 2000. Most Holy Father, You are held - by the whole world - in the highest of regard and Slovakia is no exception to that rule. We all think highly of your relentless effort to bring peace and love to the whole world. Upholding of human dignity and fair allocation of resources, these are the two cornerstones of your teachings. You see our future born out of penance for our sins and mistakes, out of forgiveness and out of mutual tolerance and understanding. At the dawn of the third Millennium, your views and visions - portrayed with clear-eyed accuracy - remain as challenging as ever, as we can see from your apostolic letter Novo Millennium Ineunte. It is with a sense of understanding that we hear your words spoken to the European institutions as well as to individual countries. We endorse your conviction "that a proper ordering of society must be rooted in authentic ethical and civil values shared as widely as possible by its citizens." Your Holiness, everywhere you go, you are seen as a high moral authority calling on politicians to uphold solidarity and to give all people a chance to live life with dignity. The world as we know it has still a long way to go. The people of Slovakia - renowned for their humbleness and hospitality - hail you as a harbinger of hope, love and faith. We embrace you with open arms as we have once embraced Cyril and Methodius the two apostles you made Patron Saints of Europe. As a country that is bound to honor and carry on their spiritual heritage, as country aspiring to a place in today's most advanced international democratic community and as a country seeking ecumenical rapprochement among all members of the community, Slovakia again turns its eyes to you, yearning for words of support and encouragement. Most Holy Father, welcome to Slovakia! Welcome among us! May your visit come as a blessing to all of Slovakia, a Slovakia that holds you in the highest of esteem. Thank you for all that you have done for the people of our country. |
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