"Every Catholic is well aware of the State’s prerogatives, but at the same time, he is also aware of his duty with respect to evangelical imperatives", said the Pope today, while he received the Prime Ambassador of the Republic of Montenegro, Antun Sbutega, for the presentation of the letters of credence. By calling Montenegro "the privileged place for the ecumenical meeting everybody hopes for", Benedict XVI recalled that "also the meeting of Christians and Muslims was concretely convincing in Montenegro". Thus, there is the necessity to "go on following this direction", joining the efforts "in the service of man, respecting the traditions which identify a land as such". Among the "priorities" pointed out by the Pope, "there was the strengthening of the legally constituted state in several aspects of public life, by adopting measures guaranteeing the real enjoyment of all the rights established by the fundamental laws of the State". According to Benedict XVI, all that will "promote the growth of citizens in social trust, allowing them to feel free to go on pursuing their legitimate objectives, both as individuals and community", thanks to "a maturation in the culture of legality".
