Vatican City, 3 March 2014 (VIS) – On
Friday 28 February 2014, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi, Laurent
Kavakure, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
and Archbishop Franco Coppola, apostolic nuncio, exchanged the
instruments of ratification of the Agreement between the Holy See and
the Republic of Burundi on matters of common interest, signed in
Bujumbura on 6 November 2012.
The solemn act was attended by:
On behalf of the Holy See, Bishop
Gervais Banshimiyubusa of Ngozi, president of the Conference of
Catholic Bishops of Burundi (CECAB); Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of
Bujumbura, deputy president of the CECAB; Bishop Joaquim Ntahondereye
of Muyinga; Bishop Bonaventure Nahimana of Rutana; Bishop-elect
Georges Bizimana, coadjutor of Bubanza; Rev. Jose Nahum Jairo Salas
Castaneda of the apostolic nunciature in Burundi, and Rev. A. Lambert
Niciteretse, secretary general of the CECAB;
On behalf of the Republic of Burundi,
Emile Butoyi, chief of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation; Ambassador Egyde Ndikuriyo, director
general for Europe, America and non-governmental organisations;
Ambassador Antoine Ntahobwa, director for America; Ambassador Ernest
Ndabashintze, advisor to the minister of Foreign Affairs; and
Emerence Nahonkuriye, assistant to the minister of Foreign Affairs.
The framework agreement, acknowledging
the good relations that have developed between the Holy See and
Burundi over the last fifty years, defines and guarantees the legal
status of the Catholic Church and regulates various areas, such as
canonical marriage, places of worship, Catholic institutions of
education and instruction, the welfare and charitable activities of
the Church, pastoral care of the armed forces and of penitential and
hospital environments, and the property and tax laws.
The framework agreement, which consists
of a Preamble of 22 Articles with an Appendix, entered into effect
with the exchange of the instruments of ratification, in accordance
with Article 22, paragraph 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment