Vatican City: Pope Calls On Iran to Allow Christian Worship

Pope Benedict XVI called on Iran on Thursday to grant Christians “the freedom to practice their faith” and Catholics “the essential conditions” to survive in the Islamic republic. In remarks in French to Iran’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Ali Akbar Naseri, Benedict called Iran “a great nation with eminent spiritual traditions,” which he said could provide “hope for an opening and a close collaboration with the international community.” The Holy See and Iran have had full diplomatic relations for more than 50 years.