Burundi ratifies Church’s status

March 03, 2014 - Burundi ratified an agreement with the Holy See last week, recognizing the juridical status of the Catholic Church in the African nation. At a formal ceremony in the Burundian capital Bujumbura on Friday, the Holy See delegation led by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Franco Coppola and the Burundian delegation led by the minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation, Laurent Kavadure exchanged the instruments of ratification which the two sides had previously signed in Bujumbura on Nov. 6, 2012. Besides defining and guaranteeing the juridical status of the Catholic Church in Burundi, the accords regulate various activities of the Church in the country such as recognition of Church marriage, places of worship, properties and educational, charitable and healthcare institutions and activities.