I thank you most warmly for your kind words about the work of the Holy See and my own personal endeavours. I have listened very carefully to all you have said about my native land, about El Salvador and the Middle East, and about peace in general, for these are matters very close to the hearts of Catholics, whose representative I am, and they are constantly in my prayers.

It is a great joy for me to be able to greet the leading representatives of an organisation to which humanity owes so much, at the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross itself! Since its foundation by Henry Dunant over a century ago, this institution, which took root in the hearts of a few generous Swiss citizens, has met with a commendable response all over the world.