BILATERAL ACCORD SIGNED BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND ESTONIA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 13, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the text of a communique made public today which announces the signing of the first ever bilateral accord between the Holy See and Estonia:

"Upon the exchange of notes between Secretary of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia on March 12, 1999, the Accord between the Holy See and the Republic of Estonia to regularize relations between the Catholic Church and this State has been detailed and brought into being.

"The Accord, which is subdivided into ten paragraphs, defines and stipulates various aspects of the juridical statute and activity of the Catholic Church and her institutions. It particularly recognizes the freedom of the Holy See in the appointment of bishops. Finally, the pastoral work of foreign priests in Estonia, the teaching of the Catholic faith in schools, and the validity of canonical marriages in civil law were guaranteed."

OP;ACCORD ESTONIA;...;...;VIS;19990315;Word: 160;