NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- The Vatican and the Italian government have assembled a mixed commission to discuss the interpretation of the concordat that governs their formal relations. The move-- announced by the Vatican press office today-- comes in response to tensions which arose after police officials searched the offices of Cardinal Michele Giordano of Naples.

      Yesterday the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, met with Italian President Romano Prodi. Their discussion, described by both parties as "cordial," centered on the concordat and on the role of Catholic schools.

      The Italian government has contested that the search of archdiocesan offices in Naples was not a violation of the concordat, although the search was made without warning to the Church, and the cardinal's phone had been tapped, in an investigation into organized crime in the region. The Vatican, without making any public response to the government's explanation, has made clear its concern over the situation.

      In making its formal response to an official complaint from the Holy See, the Italian government agreed that it might be desirable to have further discussions on the meaning of the concordat.