MINSK, 23 August (BelTA) - The people in Belarus feel their faith, outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus Ante Jozic told the media after his meeting with the Belarusian head of state on 23 August, BelTA has learned.
Ante Jozic expressed his admiration for the way Belarus upholds family values and how people pray here. The apostolic nuncio cited the example of pilgrims to the traditional Budslau Fest, which hosts a huge number of people from both Belarus and other countries.
“How many people pray, how many people come!” Ante Jozic expressed words of admiration. The Vatican representative added: “Here the people feel their faith more, live and develop. There are difficulties, but people always look at the most important things. This is a good example for me.”
The Roman Catholic Church in Belarus is the second biggest denomination in the country. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Holy See were established on 11 November 1992. The Apostolic Nunciature operates in Minsk. Aleksandr Lukashenko paid two official visits to the Vatican in 2009 and 2016. In 2016, the president invited the Pope to visit Belarus. In the span of 2008-2023, Minsk was visited by representatives of the leadership of the Roman Curia 12 times, including twice at the level of state secretaries of the Holy See, who were received by the head of state. The official opening of the new building of the Apostolic Nunciature in Minsk took place with the participation of Deputy Secretary of State Giovanni Becciu in October 2017. The event was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Holy See. In November-December 2022 the Vatican held a number of events in Minsk to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations - a festive reception, the first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the stamp, the presentation of the translation of the Code of Canon Law into Belarusian prepared by the Vatican. High representatives of the Vatican regularly participate in celebrations of significant dates associated with Catholicism in Belarus.
The approaches of Belarus and the Holy See to key issues on the world agenda largely coincide - the need to reform the Helsinki Pact, hopes for the revival of multilateralism and impartiality in the UN, the value of dialogue as the only true way to resolve conflict situations, and the understanding that food security should be above the political conjuncture. Contacts between Minsk and the Vatican are developing productively within the framework of the UN, where the priority issues of interaction are joint efforts to combat human trafficking, protection of the natural family and traditional family values.
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