19 April 2005 Your Holiness, I Should Like to Extend to You My Heartfelt

19 April 2005

Your Holiness,

I should like to extend to you my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes upon your assumption of the highest office at the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

On behalf of the United Nations, I should like to express my earnest hope for a long and fruitful Pontificate during which Your Holiness could advance the promotion of social justice, human dignity, and universal values for all.

The United Nations looks forward to further deepening its cooperation with the Holy See so that we may face in partnership the many challenges that confront our increasingly inter-dependent world. I know that your wisdom, and your faith, will help us build on the legacy of your illustrious predecessor John Paul II in favour of dialogue and peace.

On this historic day that marks the beginning of your Pontificate, allow me to reiterate my sincere congratulations to Your Holiness and to Catholics around the world.

Please accept, Your Holiness, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Kofi A. Annan

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Vatican City UNITED NATIONS mSEH NATIONS UNIES

POSTAL ADDRESS - ADRESSE POSTALE: UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. 10017 CABLE ADDRESS-ADRESSETELEGRAPHIQUE: UNATIONS NEWYORK

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL

REFERENCE:

20 April 2005

Excellency,

The Secretary-General would be grateful if you could kindly forward the enclosed letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

A copy of this letter is attached for your information.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Mark Malloch Brown Chef de Cabinet

His Excellency Archbishop Celestino Migliore, J.C.D., D.D. Apostolic Nuncio Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations New York APR20200S

Note to Mr. Malloch Brown

LETTER OF CONGRATULATIONS TO HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI

Please find attached, for the Secretary-General's approval and signature, a letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of his assumption of the papacy.

Kieran Prendergast 19 April 2005

cc: Mr. Turk Mr. Renninger