” “” ” ” “"A sound education, that will also nourish" the religious and spiritual dimensions "of the human being, is beneficial to the Church as well as to the State", since it makes "young people acquire habits that will enable them, when they grow up, to fully accept their duties as citizens". It was said this morning by the Pope to the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovakia to the Holy See, Jozef Dravecky, whom he received in the Vatican for the submission of his credentials. On recalling that "next year will be the 15th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Slovakia and the Holy See", Benedict XVI spoke of "fruitful cooperation", especially after the Slovakian Government’s ratification of two of the four points of the Basic Agreement signed in 2000, and expressed his gratitude for the Slovakian Government’s commitment to ratify the remaining two points about conscientious objection and the funding of the activities of the Church. "One of the points that have already been ratified went on the Pontiff concerns education". "It is important that the State keep guaranteeing to the Church the freedom to establish and run Catholic schools, so that the families can choose educational methods for the Christian education of their children". (continued)” “” “
