This is how Japan's new Ambassador to the Holy See, Yoshio Matthew Nakamura, presented his credential letters.
'Good morning, Holy Father. It is a great honor to present my credential letters to His Holiness.'
The diplomat made a great effort to greet the Pope in Italian, but asked him to continue in English, so Pope Francis replied in English.
'You are welcome.â?
Then the ambassador introduced his delegation and his family. The women wore traditional Japanese kimonos, but the children were the real stars of the meeting.
During the exchange of gifts, Yoshio Matthew Nakamura gave the Pope binoculars.
'For you to see the lives of the people in the periphery.â?
Pope Francis handed him a copy of Evangelii Gaudium and the encyclical Laudato Si'.
The Vatican has maintained diplomatic relations with Japan since 1942. The land of the rising sun was also the first non-Christian state to establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
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