MGR. BRUNO TORPILIANI ARRIVES, SPEAKING; PRESENTING CREDENTIALS; MOBUTU SPEAKING; M. ALBERT MADIABOLA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS; SPEAKING; PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT MOBUTU; INTRODUCES OFFICIALS, ENVOYS SIGN GOLD BOOK.




Initials RE/VS/BOB/ES



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Background: THE PAPAL NUNCIO, MGR. BRUNO TORPILIANI, AND M. ALBERT MADIABOLA, AMBASSADOR OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, PRESENTED RECENTLY THEIR CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA. THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE IN KINSHASA.

MGR. TORPILIANI, SPEAKING ON THE POPE'S BEHALF, SAID THAT THE VATICAN FEELS A DEEP ESTEEM FOR PRESIDENT MOBUTU BECAUSE OF HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH, OF ITS INSTITUTIONS AND ITS WORK IN THE CONGO. PRESIDENT MOBUTU PRAISED THE WORK OF THE MISSIONARIES IN THE FIELDS RELIGIOUS, MORAL, INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL, EDUCATIONAL IN CONGO-KINSHASA. HE ADDED THAT THE WORK OF THE CHURCH WAS ALSO VALUABLE IN BETTERING HUMAN RELATIONS AND IN PIONEERING SOCIAL AND CHARITABLE WORK. AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY, THE PAPAL NUNCIO SIGNED THE PRESIDENTIAL GOLD BOOK.

BOTH PRESIDENT MOBUTU AND M. ALBERT MADIABOLA STRESSED THAT THE CLOSE RELATIONS BETWEEN CONGO-KINSHASA AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC WOULD HELP THE DREAM OF UNITY BETWEEN THE PEOPLES BORDERING THE BANKS OF THE UBANGI RIVER. THE ETHNIC LINKS WHICH UNITED BOTH PEOPLES HAD BEEN BROKEN. THE SPEAKERS SAID, BY COLONIAL CONQUEST. M. MADIABOLA INTRODUCED OFFICIALS OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC'S EMBASSY IN THE CONGO TO PRESIDENT MOBUTU. HE THEN SIGNED THE PRESIDENTIAL GOLD BOOK.