Laurent Lamothe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs and Prime Minister-designate, attended this week at the ceremony commemorating the 7th anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI.

In the presence of Bishops of the 10 Departments of country, Laurent Lamothe recalled, in his speech for the occasion, the historical outline of cooperation with the Vatican and welcomed "the quality of close and privileged relations that unite so harmoniously the Holy See and the Republic of Haiti," stressing the commitment of Benedict XVI for the National Reconstruction.

The Minister asked the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Bernardito Azua to transmit the wishes of the Head of State, of Government and the entire Haitian population to the Pope "...we take this opportunity to ask you Mgr the Nuncio to transmit to the Supreme Pontiff the wishes of health, courage, success from the Head of State, members of the government and the entire population..."

The Minister Lamothe has noted the multiple efforts of the Church in order to achieve an integrated development of our regions as part of pastoral activities and he promised through the business diplomacy to strengthen the humanitarian programs of the Episcopate "...Today the new diplomacy that advocates the country wants to rely on the Holy See and members of the Catholic hierarchy to help the faithful to be better organized in a development perspective. We are aware of what the church always done, of what its social organizations have brought to Haiti, especially Caritas and all the social pastoral in general..."

For his part, the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Bernardito Azua congratulated the Prime Minister-designate for its spirit of openness and of social inclusion program vis-à-vis the Christian population of Haiti. Mgr Azua wished a prompt recovery to the President Martelly for which he continues to pray, he said, while noting that he is pleased that the head of state is out of danger.

Several members of the Cabinet of Ministers, of the Major bodies of the State, including the President of the Senate, members of the diplomatic corps, the business community attended the commemoration. The Minister Laurent Lamothe ended the evening, at the Diplomatic Room of the Apostolic Nuncio, with fruitful discussions around of cooperation projects linking Haiti and some members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Speech by Laurent Lamothe

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre