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(Vatican City) -- Pope Benedict the 16th met with Iran's new ambassador to the Vatican on Thursday.

During the meeting, the Pope called on the Iranian leadership to allow the country's Christian minority the freedom to practice their religion.

He also asked that they be given the "essential conditions" to survive in the Islamic Republic.

Calling Iran a "great nation with eminent spiritual traditions," Benedict said it's time for the Islamic Republic to join a "new phase of international cooperation" devoted to promoting "fundamental human values." The Holy See and Tehran have had full diplomatic relations for more than half a century