ARCHBISHOP TAURAN VISITS SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

VATICAN CITY, FEB 25, 2003 (VIS) - Made public yesterday afternoon was a communique on the February 17-21 visit to Serbia and Montenegro by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, who had been invited by the government of that country.

Upon his arrival, the archbishop was welcomed by civil and religious authorities. He then held a meeting with representatives of local and international charity organizations that work in this Balkan nation and later celebrated Mass with priests from the archdiocese of Belgrade.

Tuesday, February 18 was dedicated to encounters with civil authorities, including Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic "with whom," says the communique, "there was a broad consensus of views. ... In particular, the two heads of diplomacy agreed on the importance of not overlooking Christian roots during the process of building a new united Europe in its enlargement towards the East; on the need to make every effort possible to avoid recourse to arms in solving conflicts; on the determining role that religious communities - in this specific instance the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church - play on the path of reconciliation and rebuilding of society after the dark years of communism and war in the ex-Yugoslav Federation."

A dinner at the apostolic nunciature with leaders of religious communities in Serbia concluded the day.

February 19 was devoted to encounters with the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Belgrade and to a visit to the Orthodox church in the diocese of Sabac-Vajievo.

On Thursday, February 20 there was a meeting with the episcopal conference of Serbia and Montenegro where, said the communique, Archbishop Tauran "heard in person from the pastors of that Church the hopes, desires and difficulties of the Catholic community. Even though a minority, it is esteemed and appreciated for its contribution in favor of dialogue and reconciliation as well as for its commitment in proclaiming the Gospel."

Before his departure for Rome on February 21, Archbishop Tauran held a press conference at the nunciature "during which he expressed his impressions on the local realities, both ecclesial and civil, and he addressed the Holy See's commitment in the world, in particular on the themes of peace and the contribution that believers can make to it."

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