DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE LESSER ANTILLES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy See and the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, Lesser Antilles, in the desire to develop friendly bilateral relations, have mutually agreed to establish diplomatic links, at the level of apostolic nunciature by the Holy See and embassy by St. Kitts and Nevis.

A British colony since 1623, and a State of Association with the United Kingdom since 1967, St. Kitts and Nevis has been an independent state within the British Commonwealth since September 19, 1983. The Federation has a total area of 269.4 square kilometers and a population of 45,000; the island of St. Kitts measures 176.2 square kilometers and has 35,000 inhabitants, while Nevis is 93.2 square kilometers and has 10,000 inhabitants.

In St.Kitts and Nevis there are 5,000 Catholics; they are divided into four parishes and there are three priests. Both islands form part of the diocese of St. John's-Basseterre which has 14,000 faithful and is under the guidance of Bishop Donald James Reece.

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