Yesterday afternoon, President of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy met the people in charge of the six most important religions followed in France, for the usual exchange of wishes: Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hebrew. In the evening, the Elysée made known a note reporting the words spoken by the president on that occasion. "The acknowledgement of the religious sentiment as expression of freedom of conscience said Sarkozy, – and the acknowledgement of the religious fact as a fact of civilization are part of the acknowledgement of the Illuminist era in the same way. They are part of our republican pact and of our identity. All the people who are linked with the Republic and its ideal should make an effort to defend the values of diversity, tolerance and understanding". And "all the people who have philosophic, moral and religious convictions, should take care to give evidence of respect for the convictions they do not share". (To be continued)
