Spiritual help for euro in Portugal

By CNN's Richard Quest

NISI, Portugal (CNN) -- In villages across Portugal, religion and those who lead the faithful in prayer are the backbone of the community.

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Because of that trust, the Portuguese government has asked clergy in thousands of village parishes to lead their flock in a decidedly material pursuit: learning about the euro.

In Nisi, Padre Manuel Silva has been showing residents what the new euro coins look and feel like.

For nearly a year, Silva has been teaching his parishioners what will happen when the Portuguese escudo is replaced by the euro.

The residents who can't read or write are perhaps most at risk from fraud and swindlers when the new currency is introduced.

"It was because we felt the need to teach the parish, especially those most challenged, because it has happened already in other places that some have been taken advantage of, and we don't want any harm to come to them," Silva says.

"We would like them to know properly what the euro is when it comes into circulation."

Here, the new currency is admired and generally felt to be a good thing by young and old alike. Even those who may not have travelled beyond the next village recognise it will bring Europe closer together.

And now that they've had spiritual help, they don't see too many problems with the changeover.

"It won't be as difficult as it seems," says one woman attending one of Silva's euro workshops.

"It's going to be a good thing. People who can't read or write may have problems, but it's going to be an easy change."