Thursday, November 7, 2013

Accord signed between the Holy See and the Republic of Chad

Yesterday, in the Office of the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of Chad in N'Djaména, the Accord between the Holy See and the Republic of Chad, concerning the Official Status of the Church in Chad was signed.


The signatories were: on behalf of the Holy See, His Excellency, Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Titular Archbishop of Novica and Apostolic Nuncio in Chad; and on behalf of the Republic of Chad, His Excellency, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration.

Also present for this significant moment were:

Representing the Holy See: His Excellency, Jean-Claude Bouchard, OMI, President of the Episcopal Conference of Chad; His Excellency, Matthias N'Gartéri Mayadi, Archbishop of N'Djaména; Monsignor Sladan Cosic, Counsellor at the Apostolic Nunciature in Chad; Father Gabriel Dobadé, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Chad; Father Corentin Agdé, Professor of Canon Law at Saint Luke's Major Seminary in Bakara; Sister Emilenne Soubeiga, NDA, President of the Council of Major Superiors of Chad; Ms. Julienne Deyo, and Mister Tom Isso, Magistrates.

Representing the Republic of Chad: His Excellency, Moussa Mahamat Dabo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Integration; Mister Tordeta Ratebaye, Director of Juridical Affairs for that same Ministry; and Mister Djimadoum Guingar, Director of Protocol.

The accord, which is comprised of 18 articles, will enter into effect with the exchange of instruments of ratification.  It establishes the recognition of the legal personality of the Catholic Church and of ecclesiastical institutions, and by establishing the legal framework for relations between the Church and the state, it outlines the social value of mutual collaboration for the promotion of the dignity of the human person and for the edification of a more just and peaceful society.

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