” “"Cooperation" between the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia and the Holy See that "embraces civil as well as religious aspects" with "the fervent wish that it may become more and more intensive": with these words, Pope Benedict XVI spoke today in the Vatican to the president of the Parliament of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Liubisha Georgievski, whom he received in audience today for the celebrations in honour of Saints Cyril and Methodius. In speaking about Europe’s two patron saints, Benedict XVI called them "masters in the faith of the Slavic peoples" and expressed the wish for joining forces in order to "preserve, unchanged, the spiritual heritage that they have handed over to us and build together a future of progress and peace for everyone". As to the process of independence that has been started by the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, the Pope added the wish "that your unique identity may receive the due, long-awaited acknowledgement of the other European countries". "The peaceful settlement of the aspirations of the populations who live there he went on casts on to the European Continent a scenario of factual, fruitful confrontation, which the Holy See looks favourably upon". Of the population of over 2 million of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, 58% are Orthodox, 32% Muslims, while Catholics are just a little proportion of about 0.2% of the total.” “
