VATICAN CITY
THE Holy See will not close down its nunciature -in Cuba, .aid Mgr. Cardinale, Chief of protocol in the Vatican's Secretariat of State at a recent Press conference on the subject of relations between Church and State.
Diplomatic relationship between the Holy See and Cuba existed before the present state of affairs, he said, and added that the Holy See sees "no reason why we should suppress the num:Suture as long as there are Catholics whose rights should be defended."
Mgr. Cardinale added that "as long as the Church can make her voice heard, there is no reason why we should he the first to break off diplomatic relations". Although Mgr. Cardinale had pointed out that the Holy See never takes the initiative in setting up or breaking diplomatic relations, a questioner asked if diplomatic relations would he opened with Moscow. "The Holy See." he replied," is ready to enter into diplomatic relations with any state which is ready to respect human rights and which will give her reasonable freedom to exercise her apostolic ministry".
He added, however. that "it is very difficult to see how a really godless state could give fel guarantee to free exercise and respect of human rights." Mgr. Cardinale disclosed that a proposal regarding relations between Church and State may h made to the Council Fathers at the next session.
Asked about the Church's attitude on tolerance towards other religions, Mgr. Cardinale cited the teachings of Pope Pius XII.
He noted that the late Pope said
in 1953 that in the present state of society's development and particularly in the light of the tendency of small states to federate. tolerance assumes great importance and value because it helps towards peaceful coexistence.
He said that though the Church must hold that it is the one true Isaith. it can for the sake of lb, coin o n good of the human Community take a tolerant view even L
of those churches which it mm con.saler as false.
Mandate
Mgr. Cardinale sued that the Pope has "by divine mandate the duty to express the principles of divine law and of natural, private and international law which regulate the normal development and fusion of the social order on the basis of charity and justice." Means by which the Pone e • exercise influence include: The exercise of his primacy in matters of faith and morals; encyclicals and other documents outlining the teaching of the Church in aocia: economic and spiritual spheres; the co-operative action of bishops and clergy; efforts of the laity. Political means by which the Pope can influence in the civil sphere include: the papal diplomatic corps. the Pope's ability to arbitrate in disputes among nations, concordats signed by the Holy See and individual states. and participation by the Holy See in the activities of international Urgentea lions