COMMUNIQUE ON HONOR ACCORDED PRIEST IN REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2003 (VIS) - The following communique was released today by Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

"President Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia has conferred the 'Order of Honor', a prestigious award from the state, upon Fr. Witold Szulczyniski, S.D.B., director of Caritas in Georgia and a collaborator of the apostolic nunciature in Tbilisi. Regarding the motivation for the honor, it was underlined that it is intended as a 'recognition of the noteworthy personal contribution to the development of relations between the Vatican and Georgia, through extensive support and aid offered to people who are socially vulnerable, to orphans and refugees, through his effective charitable activity'.

"President Schevardnadze, contrary to practice, personally conferred the award upon the Religious, thus demonstrating that he openly and publicly appreciates his work.

"A similar recognition for a Catholic priest, devoted for some time in one of the republics of the former Soviet Union to different areas of solidarity and human promotion supported by faith and Christian charity, constitutes a significant testimony of the Georgian government's esteem for the Catholic Church, a strong encouragement for Georgian Catholics and a particular sign of gratitude for the commendable activity of Fr. Szulcynski."

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