Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale396

days. Let us all redouble our efforts to build a real and lasting peace for all

the peoples of the region.

Together with that general objective, Cyprus can play a particular role in

promoting dialogue and cooperation. Striving patiently for the peace of your

own hearths and for the prosperity of your neighbours, you will then be well

placed to hear and understand all sides of many complex issues, and to help

peoples to come to a greater understanding of one another. The path that you

are taking, Mr President, is one which the international community looks to

with great interest and hope, and I note with satisfaction all the efforts that

have been made to favour peace for your people and for the whole island

of Cyprus.

As I give thanks to God for these days which saw the first encounter of

the Catholic community in Cyprus with the Successor of Peter on their own

soil, I also recall with gratitude my meetings with other Christian leaders, in

particular with His Beatitude Chrysostomos the Second and the other

representatives of the Church of Cyprus, whom I thank for their brotherly

welcome. I hope that my visit here will be seen as another step along the path

that was opened up before us by the embrace in Jerusalem of the late

Patriarch Athenagoras and my venerable predecessor Pope Paul the Sixth.

Their first prophetic steps together show us the road that we too must tread.

We have a divine call to be brothers, walking side by side in the faith, humble

before almighty God, and with unbreakable bonds of affection for one

another. As I invite my fellow Christians to continue this journey, I would

assure them that the Catholic Church, with the Lord's grace, will herself

pursue the goal of perfect unity in charity through an ever deepening

appreciation of what Catholics and Orthodox hold dearest.

Let me also express again my sincere hope and prayer that, together,

Christians and Muslims will become a leaven for peace and reconciliation

among Cypriots and serve as an example to other countries.

Finally, Mr President, let me encourage you and your Government in

your high responsibilities. As you well know, among your most important

tasks is that of assuring the peace and security of all Cypriots. Having stayed

these past nights in the Apostolic Nunciature, which happens to be in the

United Nations buffer zone, I have seen for myself something of the sad

division of the island, as well as learning of the loss of a significant part of

a cultural heritage which belongs to all humanity. I have also listened to

Cypriots from the north who wish to return in peace to their homes and