CULTURAL PATRIMONY AND ARTISTIC-CULTURAL DIALOGUE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2002 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, headed by its president, Archbishop Francesco Marchisano.

The theme which is being addressed in the plenary is: "Cultural patrimony for the territorial identity and for artistic-cultural dialogue among people."

After emphasizing that "the cultural patrimony of the Church constitutes favorable ground for fruitful intercultural comparison," the Pope said: "In this sense, it is more important than ever to guarantee the juridical protection of this patrimony with appropriate orientation and order which takes into account the religious, social and cultural demands of the local populations."

"With time," he continued, "one realizes how important it is to collaborate actively with administrations and civil institutions in order to create together, each one according to his own jurisdiction, effective synergies operating in defense and safeguard of the universal artistic patrimony."

The Pope emphasized that the "organic nature of the Church's patrimony does not allow for the separation of its aesthetic contemplation from its religious finality followed by pastoral action."

The Holy Father concluded by asking participants in the plenary to intensify through their work "a productive dialogue with contemporary artists, promoting with all the media an encounter and embrace between the Church and art."

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