Delegation Discussed Matters of Czech Church in Vatican

A delegation of the Czech Bishops' Conference (CBK) completed their visit to Italy on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Among other things, they discussed matters of the Czech Church with the Secretary of the Vatican state, cardinal Tarsicio Bertone. The main topics included the settlement of relationships between the Czech state and churches.

Vatican: Accompanied by Msgr. Jan Vokál, bishop of Hradec Králové, and Msgr. Tomáš Holub, Secretary General of CBK, the president of CBK, Msgr. Dominik Duka OP visited Italy last week to address a number of topics.

On Monday, October 24, 2011, the delegation was received by Msgr. Moariano Crociato, Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), evaluating mutual cooperation of both Conferences and thanking Msgr. Crociato for the support of CEI to the Czech Church. A meeting with Msgr. Braz de Avis, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life followed.

On Tuesday, the delegation met cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education. They discussed the possibility of proclaiming the Prague Archbishopric Seminary as an inter-diocese seminary so that all bihops could partake in its management and send theologians of their dioceses to study there.

In the next two appointments, first with cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals, and later with the Secretary of State of His Holiness, cardinal Tarsicio Bertone, the CBK delegation informed the Holy See representatives about the hopeful development in the matter of partial settlement of the relationships between the Czech State and churches in the Czech Republic. This was welcomed by both Vatican representatives who expressed high esteem for both the representatives of state and the churches who partook in the negotiations. They especially appreciated the oecumenical dimension that was maintained up to the final agreement.

In the afternoon, the CBK representatives were invited to the Czech Ambassy in Italy for a celebration of the Czech statutory holiday by the Czech envoy to Italy, Petr Buriánek.

On Wednesday, October 26, the delegation moved to Milan to meet the local Archbishop, cardinal Angelo Scuolo, and partake in the vernissage of the exhibition 'Love the Good and Withstand the Evil' which is dedicated to the late Czech cardinal Josef Beran.