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Ambassador Beryl Samson becomes sixth Seychellois accredited to the Holy See |11 January 2020

Upon Ambassador Beryl Samson’s presentation of her credentials at the Vatican, His Holiness Pope Francis articulated his wish to promote a culture of dialogue as the pathway, joint collaboration as the conduct and mutual knowledge as the method and criterion to foster human brotherhood as we embrace 2020.

It was in a momentous and solemn ceremony that Ambassador Beryl Samson presented her credentials to His Holy Father, Pope Francis, at the Holy See, Vatican City, on Thursday December 19, 2019, the department of foreign affairs wrote yesterday in a press release.

During the audience with His Holiness Pope Francis, Ambassador Samson conveyed the warm wishes of the people of Seychelles and that of President Danny Faure to His Holy Father.

She also uttered appreciation and gratitude of the government of Seychelles for the continued support extended by the Holy See to the Republic of Seychelles on bilateral issues as well as multilateral matters of mutual interest.

With a Seychelles population mostly Christian where multi-faith reigns, Ambassador Samson reaffirmed Seychelles’ commitment to the promotion of tolerance and dialogue, as being preached as a fervent advocate of interreligious dialogue by His Holiness.

Speaking of emerging challenges and threats, Ambassador Samson highlighted the need for strong family fabrics, for social justice and human rights, to combat the impacts of climate change collectively and proactively address the proliferation of drug use and social ills in the country. With regard to the society’s aspirations, she echoed that it is up to the future generation to build their dreams but equally it is also the responsibility of the current generation to prepare them.

On his turn, Pope Francis extended his thoughts and prayers to the people of Seychelles for the country’s unity and harmony so that we never experience violence and atrocities; families to become the privileged place; for moral revival; national reconciliation and sent the Holy Spirit on our youth, couples, the public and the country at large.

And as we were on the verge of Christmas and New Year, His Holiness conveyed a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Seychellois and asked for Almighty God to fill us abundantly with His Grace.

Ambassador Samson was joined by colleagues from Mali, Andorra, Kenya, Latvia and Niger in presenting her credentials to the Pope.

They are part of a corps representing some 183 States that currently have diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

Pope Francis told the diplomats that he hopes their mission “will contribute not only to the consolidation of the good relations existing between your nations and the Holy See, but also to the building of a more just and peaceful world in which human life, dignity and rights are respected and enhanced”.

Noting that the path to peace begins with openness to reconciliation, the Pope said it is a path “which entails renouncing our desire to dominate others and learning to see one another as persons, sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters”.

“Only when we set aside indifference and fear can a genuine climate of mutual respect grow and flourish,” he said.

The Pope called for the will to develop a culture of inclusion, a more just economic system and various opportunities for the participation of all in social and political life.

 

Department of foreign affairs and Vatican website

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