This morning at 10:30 in the Sala Regia of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, Pope Francis delivered this address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See. It is the traditional address of the Holy Father at the beginning of each New Year. Following some introductory words by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His ...read more

Below please find the full text of the Holy Father’s address to the Diplomatic Corps: Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Heartfelt thanks to your Dean, Ambassador Jean-Claude Michel, for the kind words that he has addressed to me in the name of everyone present. It gives me joy to welcome you for this exchange of ...read more

Unofficially, it’s called the “state of the world” address. Officially, it’s Pope Benedict XVI’s annual talk to the diplomatic corps. And representatives from the 178 states that have diplomatic ties to the Holy See gathered this morning at the Vatican for the address. Religious freedom was the key issue that the Holy Father discussed. He ...read more