The Vatican has stepped into the debate about Muslim women wearing veils, with a cardinal saying 'guests' must follow the laws of their host countries, including any bans on such face-coverings.

Cardinal Renato Martino, a former Vatican envoy to the UN, heads the papal office on issues concerning migrants, itinerant workers and refugees.

Martino was speaking at a news conference to present Pope Benedict XVI's annual message on migrant issues.

He said countries: "Must require that guests who arrive from a different culture must respect the traditions, the symbols, the culture, the religion of the countries they go to."

Vatican Radio reiterated the stance, saying that "the question of the veil for Islamic women" should be "considered in the context of respect for the laws of the countries which welcome them".

Cultural traditions

Martino's comments come two weeks before the pope begins a visit to Turkey.

Flanking the cardinal, Agostino Marchetto, another Vatican official who deals with immigration issues, referred to Italy's law requiring people to keep their faces visible in public.

The law dates to Italy's crackdown on domestic terrorism several decades ago.

Marchetto said Italy "rightly" has such a law and that obeying it is "part of accepting the law of this country".

Marchetto said: "Dialogue is needed with our brothers to make them understand the consequences of some of their desires, such as their own cultural and religious traditions, would not be positive in the society they are now in."

Martino also pushed the Vatican's campaign for Christians' right to worship around the world.

He lamented that some countries do not allow immigrants from Christian countries to profess their faith easily.