AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - The National Director of the PMS: "The recognition of the legal personality of the Church is a step forward for a fruitful collaboration"

Tuesday, 8 September 2020 local churches   holy see  

Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - "I am very happy because the Church has seen its legal personality recognized", says to Agenzia Fides Don Isidore Sola Nombrè, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Burkina Faso following the entry into force of the Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Burkina Faso on the legal status of the Catholic Church in Burkina Faso. According to the press release from the Vatican Press Office "on 7 September 2020, through an official communication from the Embassy of Burkina Faso to the Holy See, the procedure for the exchange of the Instruments of Ratification of the Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Burkina Faso was completed on the legal status of the Catholic Church in Burkina Faso, signed in the Vatican on July 12, 2019".
"The aforementioned Agreement - continues the press release - "entered into force today in accordance with its article 18, guarantees the Church the possibility of carrying out its mission in Burkina Faso. In particular, the public juridical personality of the Church and its institutions is recognized". "I have not read the text of the agreement. I have only seen the press information", Don Isidore points out, "but I would like to underline the importance of recognizing the legal personality of the Church, thanks to which, for example, you will be able to defend yourself in a court if and when it is necessary. This will allow us to solve various problems we have encountered in our activities".
"Another important point established by the agreement is the principle of collaboration between State and Church that will be fruitful", continues the National Director of the PMS of Burkina Faso. "We are thinking only of collaboration in the field of education and health. Catholic schools and health facilities can now have state support, allowing more and more destitute people to have access to them", he stresses.
"We thank the Holy Father and all his collaborators for reaching the Agreement and also for having given us a new Nuncio who is taking office in these days", concludes Don Isidore.
The new Nuncio is His Exc. Mgr. Michael Francis Crotty, appointed by Pope Francis on 1 February. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 8/9/2020)


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