Cardinal Bertone presents Pope Benedict XVI's vision of...

During his visit to Spain, the Holy See's Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone has lectured on the topic of human rights in the Magisterium of Benedict XVI, and initiated discussions with the political and religious authorities of Spain. Cardinal Bertone is present in Spain at the invitation of the Spanish Bishops' Conference. Following a meeting with Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, Cardinal Bertone met for more than an hour with the first Vice President of the Government, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega. Both addressed current themes, from abortion to the economic crisis, the Religious Freedom Act,the issue of Education for Citizenship, the conflict in Gaza and Cuba. The meeting was with described as "very cordial", in keeping the "respect and dialogue" that mark relations between Spain and the Vatican, reports the agency SIC (Servicio de Información Católica).Cardinal Bertone also had an interview for more than an hour with President Zapatero, again described as "cordial", as executive sources talk of a phase of more intense and permanent dialogue with the Holy See.In this interview, the President asked Cardinal Bertone to carry the invitation to Benedict XVI to visit Santiago de Compostela next year on the occasion of its jubilee year. He also stated his intention to establish the Organizing Committee of the World Youth Day to be held in Madrid in 2011, in expectation of the Holy Father.