Hello All!   
                   This Area is READ ONLY.  Do not post to this area.   
                   The following press release is Copyrighted by the   
                             Vatican Information Service.   
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   
                                  VIS-Press releases   
      
   SLOVENIA'S CHRISTIAN HERITAGE, SOURCE OF COMFORT AND HOPE   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 22 OCT 2010 (VIS) - "Slovenia's integration into the European   
   Union, which has been achieved in an increasingly organic way over recent   
   years, has one of its fundamental premises in the shared Christian roots of the   
   'old continent'". Benedict XVI told Maja Marija Lovrencic Svetek, the new   
   ambassador of Slovenia to the Holy See, as he received her Letters of Credence   
   today.   
      
   "Looking at the history of the Slovenian people, what clearly emerges is the   
   imprint of the moral and spiritual values of Christianity. ... This heritage   
   has constituted, even in the most difficult and painful times, a constant   
   ferment of comfort and hope and has supported Slovenia on its journey towards   
   independence following the fall of the communist regime.   
      
   "In that period the Holy See was particularly close to the Slovenian nation",   
   the Pope added, going on to note that in her address the new ambassador had   
   "underlined how relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the Holy See   
   have been good since their inception, and still continue so today. In this   
   context", he said, "it is my hope that solutions may be found to all the   
   problems still unresolved by the Agreement signed on 14 December 2002".   
      
   The Holy Father continued: "In exercising her democratic prerogatives, Slovenia   
   has achieved a certain economic wellbeing, which has enabled her to consolidate   
   peaceful civil and social coexistence. It was with pleasure that I learned the   
   news of the recent approval of a law concerning the question of the so-called   
   'Erased'. ... This is an important step forwards in the attempt to solve the   
   cases of those people who lost the right to residency, work and healthcare   
   assistance. I encourage you to continue in this direction and hope efforts will   
   be made to alleviate their suffering".   
      
   Referring then to the ambassador's words concerning "the commitment to the good   
   of mankind, which unites the activities of the Apostolic See and of the   
   Republic of Slovenia", the Holy Father explained how "the Apostolic See   
   encourages initiatives adopted in the international arena to promote peace and   
   justice, in order to overcome disagreements and intensify constructive   
   relations". In this context he described Slovenia's recent entry into the   
   Organisation for Co-operation and Economic Development as "a positive step" and   
   "an important testimony of openness and of the desire to collaborate with other   
   countries".   
      
   "The Catholic Church's specific mission, which she undertakes in Slovenia as in   
   all other parts of the world, is that of announcing the Gospel, and bringing   
   all mankind to the salvation that comes from the Lord Jesus. One sign of the   
   vivacity of the Church in Slovenia is the National Eucharistic Congress,   
   celebrated recently ... in Celje", the culmination of which was "the   
   beatification of the young Lojze Grozde, martyred in hatred for the faith   
   during a very difficult period in the country's history.   
      
   "Other signs of the vitality of the ecclesial community in Slovenia are its   
   numerous pastoral and charitable activities in various social contexts", the   
   Pope concluded. "I take this opportunity to send a warm greeting to all   
   Catholics in your country. Through various initiatives they seek to help   
   everyone, and to deepen the spiritual meaning of life, and wish to contribute   
   to building an ever more just and united society, while respecting the beliefs   
   and religious practices of each individual".   
   CD/VIS 20101022 (560)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)