Dispatch of Ambassador on Special Mission to the Funeral Service of His Holiness the Late Pope John Paul II

April 5, 2005

The Government of Japan has decided to dispatch Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, as Ambassador on Special Mission to the funeral service of His Holiness the late Pope John Paul II, who passed away on April 2 (Sat) at 9:37 p.m. (Japan time: 4:37 a.m., 3 (Sun)), to be held on April 8 (Fri) from 10:00 a.m. (Japan time: 5:00 p.m.) at St. Peter Basilica, Vatican.
During the 26 years of his papacy, the late Pope John Paul II continued to strive consistently for world peace through mediation and conciliation for peaceful solutions of regional and internal conflicts as well as easing of tension. He also made a great effort to promote inter-faith dialogue, urging the importance of mutual understanding among religions. Upon his visit to Japan in 1981, His Holiness visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki and appealed for nuclear disarmament. The Government of Japan has decided to dispatch the Ambassador on Special Mission to the funeral service against such a background and in view of the friendly relations with the Vatican.

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