The annual lighting ceremony has become an important diplomatic bridge-builder for the church, which used it as a tool to help achieve new official recognition in more than 40 countries globally and access to many more during the past two decades.

This year, ambassadors or their spouses from 55 countries confirmed reservations to attend.

They represented: Angola, Armenia, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Croatia, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho and Lithuania.

Also, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Romania, Russia, St. Kits and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Other diplomatic staff or guests also attended from Germany, Israel, Mauritius and Paraguay.