VATICAN - “It is in the context of the renewal wished for by all people who have the good of the young and the country to heart that we must favor real equality between State schools and private schools, so as to grant parents appropriate liberty of choice on the schools their children attend”: the Pope addresses participants in the Congress promoted by the Study Center for Catholic Schools

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI expressed “the gratitude of the Church for the wonderful service that the Catholic school performs in evangelizing the youth and the world of culture” in an audience with participants in seminar has been promoted by the Italian Bishops’ Conference's Study Center for Catholic Schools (CSSC) in Castel Gandolfo, on September 25.
“The mission of the Catholic school has been indicated by my predecessors in many of their speeches, as well as in important documents of the Italian Bishops,” the Pope said in his address, later pointing out that “in order to be selected and appreciated, Catholic schools must be understood in their educational aims. It is necessary to have a full awareness not only of its ecclesial identity and cultural endeavor, but also of its civil significance, which should be considered not as a defense of special interests but as a precious contribution to creating the common good of all Italian society.”
Benedict XVI praised the “truly valuable service to the Church and Italian society” that the Study Center has been able to carry out in these first 10 years of existence, thanks to the valuable collaboration established between the CEI and its offices with the Federations and Associations of Catholic schools, with the Education Department at the Pontifical Salesian University, the Minister for Public Education, the Technical-Scientific Committee which includes “Sacro Cuore” Catholic University and the LUMSA, and all others who collaborate in their activity. Thanks to their careful monitoring of the situation of Catholic schools in Italy, dedicating particular attention to the question of parity and reform, the Pope said that “it has been noted that attendance in Catholic schools in some regions of Italy has grown with respect to the preceding decade, although serious - and sometimes even critical - situations persist. It is precisely in the context of the renewal wished for by all people who have the good of the young and the country to heart that we must favor real equality between State schools and private schools, so as to grant parents appropriate liberty of choice on the schools their children attend.”
At the end of his address, the Pope encouraged the Study Center to continue its service with renewed enthusiasm, focusing their commitment in the 5 areas already enumerated: “establishing a culture that appreciates the pedagogy of the Catholic school in order to provide Christian education; the monitoring of the quality and accumulation of facts on the situation of the Catholic school; the beginning of the new investigations for determining the educational, cultural, and organizational emergencies relevant today; the establishment of a culture of equality not always valued, or at least often marked by mistaken interpretations; the growth of the collaboration with the Federation/Associations of Catholic Schools in terms of reciprocal competency and goals.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2008)