RIGA, Aug 15 (LETA) - Apostolic Nuncio to the Baltic States, Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, conveyed the greetings and support of Pope Benedict XVI during today's celebration of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven in Aglona.

"Beloved brothers and sisters, I greet you sincerely and, seeing that all of Latvia is represented here, I bring you and your precious homeland the greetings and support of Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father is spiritually omnipresent and blesses you all, blesses the entire country. Your bishop Janis Bulis has urged to address all pilgrims. I have come here as a pilgrim as well, to pray to Virgin Mary, which has appeared here. Our Lady of Aglona, here I am. I thank you for accompanying me on my mission. On my behalf, I bring you love, great hope, but also many hardships and sufferings that the Latvian nation faces on its way. Sometimes, especially in the mass media, it seems that someone wants to depict Latvia as divided into different ethnic groups. It also seems than others are criticized too much," said Bonazzi.