The Holy See Signed a Diplomatic Agreement with the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Newsroom (16/08/2022 9:15 AM, Gaudium Press) Last Monday, August 15, an agreement was signed between the Holy See and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital of the African country.
Archbishop Giovanni Gaspari, Titular Archbishop of Alba Maritiba and Apostolic Nuncio in São Tomé and Príncipe was the one who signed as representative of the Holy See.
Mrs. Edite Ramos da Costa Tem Jua, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities signed for the African republic.
Several ecclesiastical and civil authorities participated in the solemn act of signing.
The agreement consists of 28 articles and was written in Italian and Portuguese. The agreement recognizes the Catholic Church and other ecclesiastical institutions as a legal personality and defines the relations between Church and State.
The agreement also strengthens the bonds of friendship and collaboration between the parties, which, with their own autonomy and independence, will contribute to the welfare of the people.
The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in Equatorial Africa and is about 250 km from Gabon. Colonized by the Portuguese, the country is Lusophone and mostly Catholic.
With an estimated population of 204 thousand inhabitants, about 70% of the population professes Catholicism. (FM)
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Compiled by Florence MacDonald
