POPE RECEIVES NEW
AMBASSADOR FROM BELGIUM
(24 Apr 10 – RV) Pope Benedict XVI today received the new ambassador from Belgium to the Holy See, Charles Ghislain.
In his address, Pope Benedict underlined that “The Church works for the common good and wants to have the opportunity to bring its message to humanity, in respect for freedom of conscience”.
There are over seven million Catholics in Belgium, about three quarters of the total population, spread across eight dioceseS. However, recent pew figures show an annual decline in Church attendance and vocations to religious life. This despite it being home to one of the worlds most famous and ancient Catholic universities, Louvain (Leuven).
The Pope spoke of his conviction that despite these social changes which have taken place in Belgium, Christianity is still an important foundation for the nation, and the Gospel principles of brotherhood and solidarity have much to offer the country’s growth.
Pope Benedict described life and human dignity as precious assets and spoke of their fragility, referring two recent disasters in Belgium: the collapse of a building in Liège, in late January, and a rail accident in Buizingen in March.
These catastrophes - said the Pope – “measure the fragility 'of human existence and the need to protect it... for authentic social cohesion and respect in diversity”.
Finally, Benedict XVI took the opportunity to greet the new archbishop of Brussels, Mons. Andre Leonard, and expressed his appreciation for the whole work of the Church in Belgium.
NB: This meeting took place a day after the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Belgium's longest-serving Catholic bishop who admitted to improper relations with a boy when he was a priest and up to his early years as bishop.
Also, last year, the Belgian Parliament approved a rsolution of censure against the Pope claiming the Catholic ban on condom use has caused millions of deaths from AIDS in Africa.
However, the King and Queen of Belgium came to the Vatican last October for the canonization of Fr. Damien of Molokai and were received in audience by the Pope.