In a letter addressed to the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, the Dalai Lama expressed his support to the work carried out by the worldwide organization which promotes the examples of solidarity of people who saved persecuted human beings during the Second World War
”I have always supported the IRWF and that is why I have accepted to become an honorary member of such a prestigious organization”, said the letter. Likewise, the Dalai Lama recognized in his letter the Wallenberg Foundation´s research work on the humanitarian actions performed by Monsignor Angelo Roncalli in Istanbul in 1944 in his capacity as Vatican Apostolic delegate.
Thanks to Roncalli’s humanitarian attitude thousands of men, women and children avoided a certain death as they were condemmed by the National-Socialist regime. Roncalli was chosen Pope John XXIII in 1958.
”This new show of adhesion and encouragement to our mission compells us to improve the work we are carrying on since 1965 through Casa Argentina en Jerusalem (Argentine House in Jerusalem) and the Wallenberg Foundation”, pointed out from New York Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the ”Spiritual Enterprises” grouped under the premises of respect for the differences and the condemnation of any kind of discrimination.
The Tibetan leader, 14th Dalai Lama, integrates the medley of personalities of different nationalities and religions who are part of the foundation which carries the name of the Swedish diplomat who saved tends of thousands of lives during his mission in Budapest in 1944. Wallenberg disappeared kidnapped by the Soviet army in January, 1945. His whereabouts still remain a mystery, in spite of the efforts carried out by his sister, Nina Lagergren, and honorary member of the IRWF. Mrs. Lagergren is Nane Annan‘s mother, wife of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.