” “"On its part ensured the Pope to the new Ambassador of Italy , the Catholic Church will not stop offering society, as it has done in the past, its special contribution, by promoting and enhancing all that is true, good and beautiful within it, enlightening all the areas of human activity by those means that are in agreement with the Gospel and consistent with everyone’s good, according to the different times and circumstances". In this way, explained Benedict XVI, "that principle, laid down by the Second Vatican Council, according to which the political community and the Church are independent and autonomous of each other in their own spheres of action", is accomplished. "Both, even if in different ways, serve the personal and social calling of the same human people". A principle, which, "authoritatively set out by the Constitution of the Republic of Italy as well", is the foundation of "the relations between the Holy See and the Italian State" and reasserts "both the independence and sovereignty of the State and the Church, and their mutual cooperation for the promotion of man and the good of the whole national community". (continued)” “
