IN A rare papal reference to the Cyprus problem, Pope John Paul II yesterday expressed confidence that Cypriots’ traditional dedication to the “values of the bible” would lead to a settlement for the divided island.
Speaking at a Vatican ceremony during which he accepted the credentials of the new Ambassador of Cyprus to the Holy See, Christos Psilogenis, the Pope said the Cyprus problem was deeply rooted and a solution would not be easy to find.
But Pope John Paul II said this was no reason to loose hope: “This must not make us feel distressed, because the roots of the solution are deeply rooted in the culture of the people of Cyprus, who have been enlightened from the dawn of Christianity with the values of the Bible.”
The Pontiff’s comment’s referred to the religious beliefs of the Greek Cypriot majority on the island.
Psilogenis praised the values of Christianity and added: “The people of Cyprus have been fulfilling their Christian duties from the dawn of history, are still carrying their cross of suffering.”
The Pope said the majority of the people of Cyprus were tired of the division on the island and had a genuine desire for peace.
He reaffirmed the Holy See’s support for efforts “to construct bridges of cooperation” in Cyprus. He stressed the need for dialogue, saying this was the only way to achieve justice and security not just in Cyprus but in whole world.
The sixth round of UN-led Cyprus settlement talks hangs in the balance because of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash’s threats not to take part.
The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.
