A statement from the Vatican press office said the two leaders discussed a planned bilateral agreement regarding the legal state of the Catholic Church in the country and noted the important contribution the Church makes to education and healthcare in the southern African nation.
During the audience the Pope and the President also spoke of broader national and regional challenges such as the fight against poverty and social inequality, as well as the promotion of justice, peace and reconciliation on the African continent.
Please find below the full English language translation of the statement from the Holy See press office:
Today, Friday 2 May 2014, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis
received in Audience the President of the Republicof Angola, His Excellency Mr. José Eduardo
dos Santos, who subsequently met with CardinalSecretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied
by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic
of Angola were evoked. In particular, mention was made of the planned bilateral Agreement
regarding the legal state of the Catholic Church in the country. In this context, reference was also
made to the important contribution offered by the Catholic Church to the country through its
educational and healthcare institutions.
Finally, attention focused on various challenges relating to the Country and the Region, such
as the fight against poverty and social inequality, the full development of the person,
reconciliation, justice and peace, with particular attention to the different situations of conflict
that affect the Continent.
Text from Vatican Radio website
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