Holy See, Mozambique ratify accord

(March 16, 2012) The Holy See and Mozambique ratified an accord earlier this week establishing the juridical status of the Catholic Church in the southern African country. The Vatican’s Press Office issued a statement on Thursday saying that on March 12, the Holy See and Mozambique gave notification of their ratification of the “Agreement on the Principles and Juridical Dispositions Governing Relations between the Holy See and Mozambique,” which was signed earlier on 7 December 2011, in the Mozambican capital of Maputo. With the ratification the accord comes into effect. The agreement includes a preamble and 32 articles which cover various issues such as the juridical status of the Catholic Church in Mozambique, the recognition of Church marriages and educational degrees, and also includes financial matters. The ratification of the accord consolidates the existing ties of friendship and collaboration between the two parties, the Vatican statement said.