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President Thabo Mbeki congratulates Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Jakarta
- President Thabo Mbeki today, Tuesday 19 April 2005 extended South Africa's congratulations
to the Holy See and indeed the Catholic faith and fraternity on the successful
election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as the new Head of the Catholic Church. President
Mbeki noted that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI assumes leadership at a critical
time in which the world collective wisdom and leadership including that of the
religious community is most important to face up to challenges of deepening poverty
and under-development afflicting many people of the world. In this regard,
South Africa expresses its conviction that Pope Benedict XVI and indeed the Roman
Catholic Church will remain seized of and ally themselves with global the struggle
for a better Africa and a better world. Accordingly, South Africa joins
the international community and the Catholic Fraternity at home and abroad in
extending its best wishes to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in all his endeavours. Issued
by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-48-53 Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag
X152
Pretoria
0001 19 April 2005
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