Text 1688, 58 rader
Skriven 2006-10-02 18:35:36 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
===================================================
Hello All!
                This Area is READ ONLY.  Do not post to this area.
                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

ALBANIA: PROMOTE COLLABORATION BETWEEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 2006 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received the
credentials from the new ambassador from the Republic of Albania to the Holy
See, Rrok Logu.

In his speech, the Holy Father pointed out that the Albanian population's
aspiration "to truth and freedom was never cancelled, not even by the long and
weighty Communist dictatorship, just recently abolished. To grow in a climate
of authentic freedom, an adequate ethnic-spiritual context is needed, founded
upon a concept of man and of the world that mirrors nature and vocation".

As well as supporting Albania's integration into the European Union, Benedict
XVI expressed the hope that it "could offer a particular contribution to the
harmonious process towards the continent's unification".

The Pope referred to the past work of the Catholic Church in Albania "for the
promotion of faith and spiritual values, as well as, the support in many
situations of need". In this context he recalled the Blessed Mother Theresa of
Calcutta, who during her lifetime "proclaimed to all that God is love and loves
all men, especially the poor and the abandoned. (...) The Church wishes to
testify this love with its educational and social work, open not only to the
Catholics but open to all".

He continued: "a primary form of charity is political activity, lived as a
service to the 'polis', to the 'public good', a service belonging to the lay
Catholics, with respect for the legitimate autonomy of politics and
collaborating with other citizens for the building of a prosperous, brotherly
and solidal nation".

The Holy Father mentioned one of the other problems the country must face,
emigration. "If on one hand this phenomenon must be fought, the conditions must
be created for those who wish to return to their homeland".

As concerns the official relations between the Catholic Church and the State,
Benedict XVI asserted his appreciation for the law approved "to enact the 2002
Accord between the Holy See and the Republic of Albania, joined to the hope for
opportune acts to regulate the financial aspects, which are very important".

He concluded: "The Holy See, this way, wishes to contribute in the
consolidation in Albania of a state of law and the necessary juridical
framework towards the real exercise of the citizens' rights in the religious
area. This will also promote the diverse religious confessions present in the
Nation to co-inhabit, offering an example of mutual respect and collaboration
up until now, to be conserved and promoted".
CD/CREDENTIALS/ALBANIA:LOGU VIS 060929 (420)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)