MINSK, 28 September (BelTA) – I advocate a greater role of the church in the country and worldwide, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the meeting with the participants of the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) on 28 September, BelTA has learned.
"I know that the church is a conservative institution in the finest sense of this word. Your greatest achievement is that you do not rush for reforms that often lead to the destruction of such institutions. This, however, does not mean we should do nothing. I would like to see the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches to play a more significant role both in my country and other countries as well. Today we need you more than ever," the Belarusian leader said.
In his words, the word of the clergy should be eloquent and powerful, which can be not a natural feature of the church. "Today, however, it is necessary. We have such times at present. I wish your voice from this geographical center of Europe to reach not only Europeans, but also all the nations of the world," the president said.
Alexander Lukashenko expressed a wish for the churches, both Orthodox and Catholic, to keep up with the times and move towards improvement. "You need to do this in order not to lose people, and have people coming to you for advice, kind word, support, as it was before (and it remains so today). To keep pace with all the good processes on the planet in general and in Europe in particular, we sometimes need a reform, an improvement in our relations and the internal processes in the church," the head of state said.
The president noted that one of the participants of the meeting confessed that he feels at home in Belarus. "It is your home. Here there are your believers who love and respect you, value every word of yours," stressed Alexander Lukashenko. "The Palace of Independence was visited by different people, but it has never welcomed so many leaders of episcopates. Let this be a good start," he added.
“All who recognize Belarus as a sovereign and independent country can consider it their home," the Belarusian leader said.
He expressed support of the clergy representatives in their assurance that young people need support: "You are right that you do not see the future for the youth without peace and security in the world, and, first of all, on our European continent, for which both the authorities and the church are responsible for." "To talk about the youth today, the prospects of young people, their right to a normal life, their own home, which the representative of Great Britain spoke about here, to talk about the future of young people regardless of how peaceful our continent will be is to make a big mistake. If there is no peace in Europe, there will not be the youth, there will not be our people to follow us. They would be forced to stand on the battlefield with weapons in their hands and look at each other through the aiming sight. This is unacceptable," Alexander Lukashenko said.
