VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2007 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received the Letters of Credence of Marius Gabriel Lazurca, the new Romanian ambassador to the Holy See.
Speaking to the diplomat in French, the Pope highlighted the Holy See's satisfaction at Romania's recent entry into the European Union. He dwelt on the "long Christian tradition" of the country and voiced the hope that it will make "an original contribution to the European edifice, helping it to be not just an economic force and a market of consumer goods," but also giving it "a new political, cultural and spiritual impulse, capable of building a prosperous future for new generations."
"For many years," Pope Benedict continued, "your country has been making great efforts towards the renewal of society, with the aim of healing the wounds of the past and enabling everyone to enjoy fundamental freedoms and to benefit from social and economic progress. ... It is just as important to ensure that everyone has equal access to independent and transparent justice." In this context, the Pope also called for "renewed attention to the poorest families, to help them educate their children with dignity."
The Pope expressed his satisfaction at "the progress made by the government in its delicate handling of the return of property confiscated from religious communities. ... I also hope," he went on, "that the laws ruling religious freedom, which is a fundamental freedom, be fully respected, especially as concerns the Greek-Catholic Church."
After giving assurances of the Catholic Church's readiness to meet the authorities in order to study ways to overcome any difficulties, the Holy Father made clear his "concern" over plans to build a 19-storey building next to the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Bucharest. The archbishop of Bucharest has appealed to the State authorities, said the Pope, "to conserve this historical patrimony and the values of faith it represents, not only for the Catholic community but for all the Romanian people."
The Pope sent greetings, via the ambassador, to His Beatitude Teoctist, patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and voiced the hope "that Catholic and Orthodox faithful continue to form ever more fraternal relationships in their daily lives, and that dialogue continues to progress at all levels. I particularly hope that the European ecumenical meeting, due to be held at Sibiu, Romania in September, will prove to be an important stage on our shared journey towards unity."
In closing, the Pope sent a special greeting to the Catholic community in Romania, saying: "I know that the Catholic faithful take an active part in the life of the country, especially in the spiritual and social fields, and I heartily encourage them to bear courageous witness to the irreplaceable position of the family in society."
CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/ROMANIA:LAZURCA VIS 20070122 (470)
Speaking to the diplomat in French, the Pope highlighted the Holy See's satisfaction at Romania's recent entry into the European Union. He dwelt on the "long Christian tradition" of the country and voiced the hope that it will make "an original contribution to the European edifice, helping it to be not just an economic force and a market of consumer goods," but also giving it "a new political, cultural and spiritual impulse, capable of building a prosperous future for new generations."
"For many years," Pope Benedict continued, "your country has been making great efforts towards the renewal of society, with the aim of healing the wounds of the past and enabling everyone to enjoy fundamental freedoms and to benefit from social and economic progress. ... It is just as important to ensure that everyone has equal access to independent and transparent justice." In this context, the Pope also called for "renewed attention to the poorest families, to help them educate their children with dignity."
The Pope expressed his satisfaction at "the progress made by the government in its delicate handling of the return of property confiscated from religious communities. ... I also hope," he went on, "that the laws ruling religious freedom, which is a fundamental freedom, be fully respected, especially as concerns the Greek-Catholic Church."
After giving assurances of the Catholic Church's readiness to meet the authorities in order to study ways to overcome any difficulties, the Holy Father made clear his "concern" over plans to build a 19-storey building next to the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Bucharest. The archbishop of Bucharest has appealed to the State authorities, said the Pope, "to conserve this historical patrimony and the values of faith it represents, not only for the Catholic community but for all the Romanian people."
The Pope sent greetings, via the ambassador, to His Beatitude Teoctist, patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and voiced the hope "that Catholic and Orthodox faithful continue to form ever more fraternal relationships in their daily lives, and that dialogue continues to progress at all levels. I particularly hope that the European ecumenical meeting, due to be held at Sibiu, Romania in September, will prove to be an important stage on our shared journey towards unity."
In closing, the Pope sent a special greeting to the Catholic community in Romania, saying: "I know that the Catholic faithful take an active part in the life of the country, especially in the spiritual and social fields, and I heartily encourage them to bear courageous witness to the irreplaceable position of the family in society."
CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/ROMANIA:LAZURCA VIS 20070122 (470)
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