Vatican City, 3 April 2014 (VIS) –
This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father
Francis received in audience José Maria Pereira Neves, prime
minister of the Republic of Cape Verde, who then went on to meet with
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop
Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
Subsequently, in the Sala dei Trattati
of the Apostolic Palace, the Cardinal Secretary of State and the
prime minister exchanged the instruments of ratification of the
Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Cape Verde on the
legal status of the Catholic Church in Cape Verde, signed in Praia on
10 June 2013.
The Agreement, which further
consolidates the bonds of friendship and collaboration existing
between the two Parties, consists of thirty articles and establishes
a basic legal and normative framework. It recognises Sundays as days
of rest and regulates various areas of common interest, such as the
protection of places of worship and celebrations; the civil effects
of canonical marriage and the ecclesiastical judgements in this
regard; guarantees of Catholic institutions of instruction and
education; the teaching of religion in schools; aid and charitable
activity of the Church, pastoral care of the armed forces, in prisons
and in hospitals, and matters related to the property and tax regime.
The Agreement will come into effect on the thirtieth day following
the exchange of the Instruments of ratification.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin commented
during the meeting that the exchange ceremony offered “a happy
opportunity to reflect with satisfaction on the period between the
initiation of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the
Republic of Cape Verde in 1976, shortly after independence.
“During these years a cordial and
fruitful path has been undertaken, the foundations have been laid for
an increasingly effective collaboration, ready to take account of
long-standing hopes as well as to respond adequately to today's
pastoral and social demands.
“The solemn Act we celebrate today
certainly does not constitute a point of arrival, but rather a
renewal of commitment by the two Parties for the good of the people
of Cape Verde. For the Church in Cape Verde, this takes on the value
of an historic event, a sign of the excellent collaboration between
the political Authorities and the Catholic Community”.
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