Bucharest, Romania, May 31, 2019 / 05:13 am
The Catholic Church wants to continue to be an active and contributive member of Romanian society, Pope Francis told the president and authorities of the Eastern European country Friday.
The Catholic Church "desires to contribute to the building up of society," he said May 31, on the first of a three-day trip to the Romanian cities of Bucharest, Bacau, Sumuleu-Ciuc, and Blaj.
He explained that the Catholic Church is "no stranger" to patriotism; "she shares fully in the spirit of the nation," as can be seen in the participation of Catholics "in the shaping of the country's future and in the creation and development of the structures of integral education and forms of charitable assistance suited to a modern state."
"In this way, she desires to contribute to the building up of society and of civil and spiritual life in your beautiful land of Romania," he stated.