ROME, APR 18 (ZENIT.org).- This morning Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference; and Giovanna Melandri, Italian Minister for Cultural Patrimony, signed an important agreement for conservation and consultation in regard to archives of historical interests and libraries belonging to ecclesiastical institutions. The agreement covers some 100,000 archives and 4,600 libraries of incalculable historic and artistic value.

    Archbishop Giancarlo Santi, director of the Italian Office for Ecclesiastical Cultural Goods, explained that the agreement between the government and the Episcopal Conference "defines some general principles and assumes some commitments by the State on one hand, and by the Church on the other, to make possible the preservation and effective use of ecclesiastical archives and libraries, in keeping with rules that are valid for the whole of Italy."

    The government commits itself to train personnel to guarantee better organization and consultation The Church, in turn, will open the consultation to the public and establish appropriate hours.

    The patrimony includes not only artistic and religious treasures, but also riches of great social, economic, and political utility. According to a 1995 count, these archives and libraries contain 27 million volumes, 112,000 manuscripts, 2,500 illuminated codices, and 200,000 rare books.

    This agreement has also led the Italian government to allocate additional funds for the maintenance not just of ecclesiastic archives and libraries but also those of the State and private institutions. ZE00041808