Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 8 July (BelTA) – President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran stated that his faith grew stronger during the visit to Belarus. The statement was made by the Cardinal at the divine service held in Saint Mary’s Archcathedral in Minsk on 7 July according to the official website of the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus, BelTA has learned.

Led by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the divine service gathered all the catholic bishops of Belarus and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti. Representatives of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, the Greek Catholic Church, and clergy of other countries were also present.

“I would like to thank you because my faith has grown stronger during this visit. I’ve seen churches filled with so many people that I’ve never seen anywhere else. I thank you for the testimony of your faith,” Jean-Louis Tauran told those present.

Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz said: “The Minsk department has lived through a series of events that have positively and negatively influenced the development of the church in Belarus. At present we call this place [Saint Mary’s Archcathedral], which used to be a gym not so long ago, a spiritual gym. This relic has always been a token that the church lives in our country. The department brought together the believers of our land and symbolized the unity with the Holy See”.

“I ask you to inform the Most Holy Father that the church in Belarus is being revived, it lives, it strides forward courageously, while its parishioners are worthy of welcoming the Pope in their land,” the Metropolitan told the legate.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran arrived in Belarus on 6 July for a three-day visit to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the presence of the Mother of God’s icon in the town of Budslav.