In the Apostolic Palace’s Hall of Treaties, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and the President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic exchanged the instruments of ratification of the Basic Agreement between the Holy See and Montenegro, signed in the Vatican on 24 June 2011. During the course of the ceremony, Vujanovic who had previously held a discussion with Benedict XVI stressed that Montenegro is “the first country with an Orthodox majority to sign such an agreement with the Holy See.”
The agreement comes into force today, with the exchange of ratification instruments and sets out some provisions that are of common interest for the life and activities of Montenegro’s Catholic community.”
“We are certain that the correct implementation of what has been agreed will also work in Montenegro’s favour, because a part from it gaining a positive image on an international level – it will help to overcome problems inherited from the past and to build a better future: a future of mutual respect and collaboration between religious Communities and civil Authorities, of complete harmony among the country’s people and religions,” Bertone said in his speech.”