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7-January-2008 — ZENIT.org News Agency

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 7, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See seeks to promote a sense of common belonging to the human family through the diplomatic relations it maintains with 176 countries, Benedict XVI says.

The Pope affirmed this today when he addressed the ambassadors for a traditional New Year’s greeting. In his address, the Holy Father gave an overview of the state of the world.

In addition to diplomatic relations with 176 nations, the Holy See also has relations with the European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. It also has relations of a special nature with the Russian Federation and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Vatican press office reported today.

Last year, one more nation — the United Arab Emirates — established relations with the Holy See.

When John Paul II became Pope in 1978, the Holy See had diplomatic relations with 85 countries.

The Holy See has permanent observers to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in Paris; the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, in Rome; the Council of Europe; the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; the International Atomic Energy Agency, in Vienna; and the World Tourism Organization, in Rome.

Story may be found: http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=84928