VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 14, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Governments should promote economic and social policies that help married couples to raise their families, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said this Thursday when receiving in audience the new ambassador of Slovakia to the Holy See, Jozef Dravecky, who presented his letters of credence to the Pope.
Next year Slovakia will mark 15 years of diplomatic relations with the Holy See, but the Holy Father noted at the meeting that the "bonds uniting the Bishop of Rome to the people of your country stretch back to the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius."
The Pontiff also noted that diplomatic cooperation "has been especially fruitful in recent years, as evidenced by your government's ratification of two of the four items contained in the Basic Agreement signed in 2000."
Role of education
Benedict XVI highlighted education as "a key approved item of the Basic Agreement."
The Pope said: "It is important that states continue to guarantee the Church the freedom to establish and administer Catholic schools, affording parents the opportunity to choose a means of education that fosters the Christian formation of their children.
"As they grasp Christian teaching, young people appreciate their personal dignity as creatures made in the image and likeness of God and thus recognize a purpose and direction for their lives.
"Indeed, a solid education that nourishes all the dimensions of the human person, including the religious and spiritual, is in the interest of both Church and state.
"The combined efforts of Church and civil society to instruct young people in the ways of goodness are all the more crucial at a time when they are tempted to disparage the values of marriage and family so vital to their future happiness and to a nation's social stability."
Strong families
"The family," the Pontiff underlined, "is the nucleus in which a person first learns human love and cultivates the virtues of responsibility, generosity and fraternal concern.
"Strong families are built on the foundation of strong marriages. Strong societies are built on the foundation of strong families.
"Indeed, all civic communities should do what they can to promote economic and social policies that aid young married couples and facilitate their desire to raise a family."
Benedict XVI continued, "Far from remaining indifferent to marriage, the state must acknowledge, respect and support this venerable institution as the stable union between a man and a woman who willingly embrace a life-long commitment of love and fidelity.
"The Catholic bishops, too, in your country are worried about increases in the rate of divorce and the number of children conceived out of wedlock.
"Thanks to the efforts of the Council for Family and Youth, the conference of bishops has expanded educational initiatives that raise awareness of the noble vocation to marriage, thus preparing young people to assume its responsibilities.
"Such programs open the door to further collaboration between Church and state and help to ensure a healthy future for your country."
Heritage
"The rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Slovakia holds great potential for revitalizing the soul of the European continent," said the Pope.
He said that he hopes the events marking the 1150th anniversary of the lives of Sts. Cyril and Methodius "will renew Slovakia's vigor to bear witness to these timeless values."
"In this way," the Holy Father said, "she will inspire other member states of the European Union to strive for unity while recognizing diversity, to respect national sovereignty while engaging in joint activity, and to seek economic progress while upholding social justice."
ZE07091407 - 2007-09-14