Ratification of Agreement between Holy See and Brazil

Vatican City: December 10, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

In the Vatican Apostolic Palace today, Thursday 10 December, the exchange took place of the instruments of ratification of an Agreement between the Holy See and the Federative Republic of Brazil. The Agreement was signed on 13 November 2008.

According to a communique, the ceremony was attended for the Holy See by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, and for the Federative Republic of Brazil by Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa, ambassador plenipotentiary.

"The Agreement, which further consolidates the traditional bonds of friendship and collaboration that exist between the two sides, is made up of a preamble and twenty articles which govern various areas, among them: the juridical status of the Catholic Church in Brazil; the recognition of academic qualifications; the teaching of religion in State schools; canonical marriage and the fiscal regime.

"With today's ceremony", the communique adds in conclusion, "the Agreement comes into force".