Archbishop Elect Charles Scicluna this morning paid official visits on President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during which he promised the Church would remain active in social, educational and charity work.

Welcoming the Archbishop Elect, President Coleiro Preca told Mgr Scicluna she was convinced he would be an effective shepherd.

“We are lucky that you were chosen as you are close to the people and have an international vision,” she said.

President Coleiro Preca added that there were Maltese families, who still sought consolation in the Church, which reflected the love of God.

The Archbishop Elect promised the President his full cooperation and thanked her for her support on behalf of Catholic non-governmental organisations.

“We see in you a guarantee of religious freedom,” he said.

He insisted that the Church should enter into dialogue with society to strengthen the value of common principles.

During his visit to Dr Muscat, Mgr Scicluna acknowledged that while the autonomy between the church and state was important, both institutions worked for the benefit of the same people.

He called for an honest, loyal and respectful dialogue, especially since the church and state collaborated on several services.

The Church’s vocation, he said, was to serve humanity so collaboration in favour of the poor to eliminate poverty was of utmost importance.

He also looked forward for collaboration for the benefit of the natural environment.

Mgr Scicluna mentioned the Church’s position in favour of human dignity and said the Church commended initiatives which promoted this.

Dr Muscat noted that while the Church and the State were close, there was a distinct separation between the two and this was important.

This, he said, did not mean a lack of dialogue between the two because the Church’s role was complementary to that of the State especially in the sectors of children, elderly and rehabilitation from substance abuse.

“I appreciate the fact that you have strong opinions and there are issues on which we see eye to eye and others on which we don’t,” Dr Muscat said.

Mgr Scicluna also visited Speaker Anglu Farrugia in the afternoon.

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