Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Oct. 25 / Trend H. Hasanov /
The Pope sent a letter to the Turkmen president.
"Appealing to God, I beg to send the divine blessing of Your Excellency, leaders of civil society and the people of your country," Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his letter to the Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov.
The letter was sent on the occasion of the forthcoming celebration of the Independence Day in Turkmenistan on Oct. 27. It was published by local media.
"It gives me great pleasure to express my sincere congratulations to Your Excellency and the Turkmen people on the occasion of Independence Day in Turkmenistan," the letter said.
The Pope also wrote that he was praying for the efforts of all who seek to establish and maintain peace under the sign of growing solidarity and fraternity of the nation and the entire international community to be supported.