Pope receives European Christian Democrats, including HDZ officials

ROME, Sept 22 (Hina) - Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday held a reception for representatives of Christian Democrat parties, including leaders of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), and at the reception held in Castel Gandolf, the pontiff said that during their political activities Christian Democrats should be guided by common weal and the protection of human dignity rather than by the market logic.

"The political and institutional contributions that you make will not only be required to respond to the urgent needs of a market-logic, but should continue to take as central and essential the pursuit of the common good, rightly understood, as well as the promotion and protection of the inalienable dignity of the human person," the pope was quoted as saying in a press release issued on the Vatican 's official web site.

He appealed for the protection of the human life from conception to death and for the defending of the marriage as the unity of man and woman.

"The family, the original cell of society, is therefore the root that nourishes not only the individual, but also the very basis of social coexistence," the Holy Father was quoted as saying.

Among some 100 politicians were also the HDZ leader, Tomislav Karamarko, the party's secretary-general Milijan Brkic and HDZ international secretary Davor Stier.

The Christian Democrat international organization’s Executive Committee took place on Friday in Rome and today's reception in Castel Gandolf marked the completion of that gathering which was attended by the host, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and prime ministers of several European countries.