His Holiness Arrives to Warm Welcome in South Tyrol
Bozen, 31 July 2005– His Holiness arrived at Bozen airport from Rimini on the morning of 31 July by a special plane chartered by the Government of the South Tyrol. Mr. Luis Durnwalder, President of South Tyrol welcomed him at the airport.
South Tyrol is an autonomous region within the Italian Republic.
His Holiness met with the media before attending a luncheon hosted by President Luis Durnwalder at which prominent civic and university officials were present, including Lord Desai, a member of Britain’s House of Lords.
President Durnwalder introduced His Holiness to the media. His Holiness praised the high level of autonomy enjoyed by South Tyrol and the resulting high standard of living and low unemployment rate in the State.
The media asked him questions on Tibet, religion, terrorism and the relationship between South Tyrol and Tibetans.
His Holiness thought that to tackle terrorism, there two approaches should be adopted, the first to deal with such threats immediately and the other a long-
term strategy to eradicate its root causes.
His Holiness also granted an audience to Tibetans living in Italy. He reminded the Tibetans of the utmost need to preserve their identity and to maintain the good name of Tibetans. He also said that they should be good ambassadors and do whatever they can, especially at this critical juncture when the very existence of Tibet is under severe threat.
His Holiness also expressed his happiness to learn from the President that the two Tibetan students studying at the South Tyrol University, through scholarships from the South Tyrol Government, were doing well.
As for the Buddhist centres in Italy, His Holiness expressed his satisfaction that most of the Lamas and teachers in these centres have a good track record.
He however reminded them that he was against conversion, especially in countries where they have traditionally well-established religions.
On the issue of Tibet, the dialogues towards finding a mutually agreeable solution are ongoing, and he hopes that truth will prevail, contributing furthermore towards stability and unity in China.
On 1 August, His Holiness attends a Conference on Ethics and the Challenges of the Global Economy at the European Academy of South Tyrol.
In the afternoon of the same day, he leaves for Trento, the other province of South Tyrol, for meetings with the provincial authorities, followed by a public talk in the provincial auditorium.