Key facts of the case - The school councils of two villages, situated in Veneto region, decided to authorise the pastoral visitation of the school. The Union of the Atheists and Agnostic Rationalists (UAAR) appealed against this decision considering that it could discriminate non-Catholic students.

Main reasoning of the court - The Administrative Court of Veneto Region had decided that the appeal of the Union of the Atheists and Agnostic Rationalists (UAAR) was inadmissible as the association was not competent to appeal. The Council of State decided to receive the appeal but recognised the pastoral visitation as a cultural event, not a worship activity nor a care of souls. As a consequence, the pastoral visitation in public schools does not have a discriminatory effect on non-Catholic believers.