(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with French President Frannçois Hollande on Friday morning to discuss shared concerns and the good relations that exist between France and the Holy See. Following the papal audience, the President also held talks with Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin and with the Vatican’s ‘foreign minister’ or Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.A statement from the Vatican press office following the papal audience said the 'cordial 'talks focused on 'the contribution that religion makes to the common good', as well as the commitment of both France and the Holy See to maintain dialogue and constructive cooperation on questions of common interest. In the context of the defense and promotion of human dignity, the two men discussed contemporary concerns such as the family, bioethical issues, the respect for religious communities and the protection of places of worship.
According to the statement, the Pope and the President also discussed issues of international concern, including the problems of poverty and development, migration and protection of the environment. They spoke especially about conflict in the Middle East and certain regions of Africa, expressing the hope that in these different countries , peaceful coexistence can be restored through dialogue and the participation of all members of society, with full respect for the rights of all people, in particular the ethnic and religious minorities.
Text from Vatican Radio website
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