The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone announced this during his speech at the Synod on the new
evangelisation that is currently taking place in the Vatican.
The
cardinal explained that the meeting is one of the initiatives planned
for the Year of Faith and was inspired by a similar gathering held in
the year 2000 on the occasion of the Jubilee.
In agreement with the Episcopates, the Holy See
uses “instruments of diplomatic dialogue with civil authorities,” to
ensure that its action “is not aimed at guaranteeing anachronistic
privileges but guaranteeing the Church as much freedom in internal
government and in the exercise of its mission, to which it lays
legitimate claim as possible. When this freedom exists, it also benefits
members of other religious faiths and fosters social harmony,” Bertone
told Synod Fathers.
Apostolic Nuncios are above all Catholic bishops, the Vatican
Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, recalled this in his
speech at the Synod.
The Apostolic Nuncios who represent the Holy See in
179 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Vatican, but also
those who represent it at the European Union, in the Palestinian
National Authority, the Order of Mata, at the UN (in New York and
Geneva), the OSCE, UNESCO, FAO and other international or regional
organisations, such as the Arab League and the African Union, “are aware
of the direct responsibility they have as members of the College of
Bishops and in announcing the Gospel and promoting the New
Evangelisation.”