Pope receives organization of Italian mayors

Pope Benedict XVI received the members of the Italian National Association of Municipalities – the Italian Mayors’ association – in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. Among the highlights of the Pope’s remarks were his thanks to the mayors for their recent vote to encourage efforts to raise awareness on the local level of the plight of Christian communities in countries where they constitute a minority.

The Holy Father also said that municipalities in Italy, together with the parishes, are a basic unit of social organization, combining unity and plurality - important values to respect and maintain 150 years after the unification of Italy. For her part the Church, with parish and local structures, aims to help the people to grow, and asks for no privilege, but only to be able to perform her function. On the subject of citizenship, the Pope stressed that the Church is doing her part.He asked the municipalities to find ways of conjoining peaceful co-existence and respect for the laws, while taking in account the civil and religious tradition in Italy, a tradition steeped in Christianity.
Listen to Chris Altieri's report: