Pope says Christianity is central to Bulgarian, EU identity
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Vatican City, Nov 3, 2009 / 01:42 pm (CNA).- In a meeting last Saturday with the new ambassador of Bulgaria, Nikola Ivanov Kaludov, Pope Benedict XVI spoke on the importance of Christianity in the development of Bulgaria, which joined the European Union in 2007.

Stating the necessity of Bulgaria keeping its cultural identity, the Holy Father said that “countries must not sacrifice their own cultural identity in the process of constructing Europe. Quite the opposite, they must find the means to produce good fruits that enrich the entire community.”

“Bulgaria,” he commented, “undoubtedly plays an important role in creating serene relations among neighbor States, and in the defense and promotion of human rights.”

In the case of Bulgaria, the Holy Father stated that Christianity is central to its identity and that the development of the country must have a “spiritual dimension.” Referencing his recent encyclical “Caritas in Vertitate” the Holy Father said that “it is vital for development not to be limited exclusively to economic domination, but that it take account of the integrity of the human person.”

The Pope warned Bulgarians to not view Christianity as merely “a treasure of the past to be conserved” but instead to recognize its “truly promising future which protects human beings from the temptations that always threaten to make them forget their own greatness.”

Pope Benedict finished his address by stating the importance of “mutual understanding and respect” between the many religious communities in Bulgaria and that “the Catholic community wishes to open generously to everyone and to work with everyone.”

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: BS
England 11/04/2009 09:48 AM EST
I love Pope Benedict so must - he has the most wonderful messages. May god keep you beloved Pope, you're what Europe sincerely needs right now!
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Published by: Stephen
U.S.A. 11/03/2009 04:04 PM EST
It's providential that Pope Benedict XVI reminds Bulgaria of the importance of Christianity, not as a thing of the past but of the here and now in the present and its future well being for generations to come. St. Benedict re-evangelized Europe some 1500 years ago and Europe gained a World Wide presence and expertise in so many areas that it literally provided this very same presence and expertise to many other countries around the world. The main two commandments in our Christian Catholic faith firstly, to love God and secondly, to love thy neighbour as thy self are two very important hallmarks of a Christianty that builds and learns from other religious communities in as the Pope says, mutual understanding and respect" and to, "work with everyone." May God enlighten the leadership of Bulgaria and other European countries to God's infinite love, goodness and mercy which will always show this love of neighbour by promoting and taking into account the integrity of every person by defending and promoting every one's human rights no matter what there faith is or where they come from.
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