EUROPE: MAINTAINING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 4, 2003 (VIS) - The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, made the following declaration:

"Today, Friday, January 3, the President of the European Parliament, Patrick Cox, was received by Pope John Paul II and, after, met with His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State of His Holiness.

President Cox's visit was a propitious occasion for an exchange of views about Europe. The Holy See underlined that, in a particular way, the joining of the new nations to the Union will be an enrichment for all Europeans and a hope for all people.

During the meeting, they also spoke about the project for the future constitutional treaty and about the interests of the communities of faithful in the European nations, where they maintain a majority, to have their identity and their specific contribution to the life of society respected, as well as the benefits from the statute in the national legislations. The Holy See underlined that this does not mean looking for a privileged juridical statute, rather the maintaining of religious freedom, with full respect for the laity of the civic and community institutions, as well as the non-denominational organizations."

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