VATICAN CITY, OCT. 25, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is affirming the vivacity of the Church in Slovenia, evidenced by events like a recent National Eucharistic Congress in Celje, where the young martyr Lojze Grozde was beatified.
The Pope stated this Friday in an audience with the new Slovenian ambassador to the Holy See, Maja Marija Lovrencic Svetek.
The Pontiff added that «further manifestations of the vitality of the ecclesial community on Slovenian soil are the numerous pastoral and charitable works present in the social contexts: schools, hospitals, prisons, the army and other institutions.»
He expressed the hope that «the Republic of Slovenia will be able to make its own contribution in the international forums, also through good collaboration with the Holy See.»
The Holy Father also expressed the hope «that all the problems still to be resolved will be solved with the Agreement signed on December 14, 2001» by Slovenia and the Holy See.
He acknowledged «as a positive step Slovenia’s entry in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,» as an «important testimony of openness and willingness to collaborate with the rest of the nations.»
«Laudable is this intent to be dedicated to issues that interest the international community and global challenges,» Benedict XVI noted.
European Union
Moreover, he added that «the integration of the Slovene nation in the European Union, which has been carried out over these years ever more organically, has among its fundamental assumptions the common Christian roots of the Old World.'»
In this connection, the Pope referred to Sts. Cyril and Methodius, to whom «is owed the proclamation of the Gospel and the rooting of Christianity in the soul of the Slav peoples,» and «Slovenia’s rootedness in the evangelical values, which always reinforce the identity and enrich the culture of a nation.»
He highlighted the importance of Christianity’s values in the history of the Slovene people, recalling that «the first testimonies of Slovenian language and literature are manuscripts of prayers and of other religious texts,» and referred to «the beautiful churches and chapels that arise in the territory.»
The Pontiff affirmed, «This patrimony has constituted, even in the most difficult and painful moments, a constant ferment of consolation and hope, and has sustained Slovenia on its path to independence, after the fall of the Communist regime.»
Referring to the democratic period, he pointed out that «Slovenia has attained a certain economic well-being, which has made it possible to consolidate peaceful civil and social coexistence.»
The Holy Father also mentioned «the recent approval of the law on the issue of the so-called ‘canceled,’ as an important step forward in the attempt to bring to a solution the cases of those who have lost the right to residence, to work and to health care.»
