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Skriven 2006-05-23 22:44:02 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

CHURCH AND STATE: COLLABORATE IN INTEGRAL GOOD OF PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2006 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received the Letters of
Credence of Francisco Vazquez Vazquez, the new Spanish ambassador to the Holy
See.

The Pope began his address to the diplomat by referring to his "fond memories"
of Spain, "both for the friendliness of the people I met, and for the abundance
and great importance of the many works of art and expressions of culture
throughout her territory.

"This is an enviable heritage," he added, "denoting a brilliant history
profoundly imbued with Christian values." That heritage "includes works in
which the artists have given concrete form to their ideals and their faith. If
this were to be ignored or passed over in silence, it would lose a large part
of its attraction and meaning, though it would continue, so to say, to be made
up of 'stones that speak'."

Benedict XVI then went on to recall how the "centuries-old diplomatic relations
between Spain and the Holy See ... reflect the Spanish people's constant
attachment to the Catholic faith. The great vitality that the Church has had,
and continues to have, in your country represents a special invitation to
strengthen those relations and to encourage close collaboration between the
Church and public institutions - respectfully and faithfully, each with their
respective competencies and autonomy - with the aim of achieving the integral
good of people who, as citizens of their country, are also ... the much beloved
children of the Church."

"Indeed," he added, "the Church encourages believers to love justice and to
participate honestly in public and professional life with a sense of respect
and solidarity, in order 'to promote organically and institutionally the common
good.' [The Church] is also involved in the promotion and defense of human
rights, because of her great consideration for the dignity of human beings in
their entirety, whatever their place or situation."

"For this reason the Church unreservedly proclaims the primordial right to
life, from conception to natural end, the right to be born, and to form and
live in a family without this being supplanted or obscured by ... different
institutions. On this subject, the World Meeting of Families, shortly to be
held in ... Valencia, Spain ... will give me the opportunity to celebrate the
beauty and fecundity of the family founded on marriage, its exalted vocation
and its irreplaceable social value.

"The Church also insists on people's inalienable right to profess their
religious faith without hindrance, both publicly and privately; and on the
right of parents to ensure their children receive an education in keeping with
their own values and beliefs, without discrimination or exclusion, be it hidden
or explicit. On this matter, I find cause for satisfaction in the great demand
for the teaching of Catholic religion in Spanish State schools, This means that
people recognize the importance of that subject for the growth and the personal
and cultural formation of the young."

Finally, the Pope referred to the "evangelizing mission" of the Church, part of
which is "charitable activity." He recalled how "in Spain today, and in her
long history, this aspect has shown itself to be particularly fruitful in the
Church's many support activities, undertaken in all fields and with great
breadth of vision. And because this activity is not inspired by political or
ideological strategies," but "in a 'duty to humanity,' collaboration in the
field of humanitarian aid and support has achieved many goals, and it is to be
hoped that it continues to increase."
CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/VAZQUEZ VIS 060522 (600)

SUMMARY

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