The Polish parliament and Catholic bishops will hold an international conference to mark the 90th birthday of retired Pope Benedict XVI on 19 April.

The conference entitled “The concept of the State in the view of Pope Benedict XVI's teachings” is “unusually current”, according to Deputy Speaker Ryszard Terlecki, who extended an invitation to the event in parliament on Thursday.

The retired Pope's teachings say that the Catholic Church and state institutions can co-exist without limiting social, political and cultural relationships, Terlecki said.

He added that faith should infiltrate secular institutions.

“Parliament is the best place to consider the extent to which faith should infiltrate state, social and political work,” he said.

According to priest Mariusz Kuciński, director of the Centre for Ratzinger Studies, a co-organiser of the event, young people, scientists and politicians should join the discussion at the meeting.

German Cardinal Gerhard Müller and Italian archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio are expected to attend the conference. (vb/pk)

Source: IAR