ADDRESS OF PAUL VI
TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR OF CHINA
TO THE HOLY SEE*

Monday, 10 October 1966

Mister Ambassador,

We are honoured to receive you, who have been your country’s Foreign Minister, as Envoy Extraordinary and Ambassador Plenipotentiary of China to this Holy See. Be assured of Our warm gratitude for the kind words you have pronounced, and the cordial sentiments you have expressed, in your thoughtful discourse. The beloved Chinese people are always in Our heart and in Our prayers. Through the good offices of Your Excellency, We are confident that our relations will be ever more open, sincere and friendly. On Our part, We assure you of Our desire to collaborate fully in every effort directed towards achieving world peace, in truth, justice and brotherly love.

While promising Your Excellency a heartfelt welcome whenever you consider it necessary to approach Us, concerning matters of importance to your mission, We request your kind services to convey to His Excellency the President of the Republic and to the members of the Government, Our affectionate greetings and paternal good wishes, which We extend also to all the dear Chinese people. To them, and in particular to Your Excellency, We express heartfelt hopes for prosperity and progress, and upon all, We gladly invoke the choicest and most abundant favours of Heaven.

*AAS 58 (1966), p.905.

Insegnamenti di Paolo VI, vol. IV p.480.

L'Osservatore Romano 10-11.10.1966, p.1.

L’Attività della Santa Sede 1966, p.648.