Holy See and Sultanate of Oman establish full diplomatic relations
By Vatican News
In a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Holy See and the Sultanate of Oman have announced their wish to promote "mutual understanding" and further strengthen the "friendship and cooperation between the Holy See and Oman." The Holy See Press Office released the statement on Thursday evening.
The statement notes how both are "convinced that the establishment of diplomatic relations serves the common interests of the Holy See and Oman," and "guided by the principles of sovereign equality, independence, territorial integrity and non-interference," both agreed "to establish, on the basis of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961, full diplomatic relations at the level of an Apostolic Nunciature to the Sultanate of Oman and of an Embassy to the Holy See."
The Holy See now has diplomatic relations with 184 nations. The local Church in the territory of Oman is part of the Apostolic Vicariate of South Arabia, based in Abu Dhabi, and entrusted to the pastoral care of Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM. Cap. There are four parishes in the country where 12 priests minister. It is hoped that with the establishment of full diplomatic relations with the Holy See, the Catholic Church in Oman, through its priests and religious, can continue to contribute to the social welfare of the Sultanate.
The signing ceremony took place in New York, at the headquarters of the Sultanate's Permanent Mission to the UN, with representatives from the Holy See, the Permanent Observer to the UN Gabriele Caccia, and from Oman, Ambassador Mohammed Al Hassan.
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