(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday received the members of the Episcopal Conference of Latvia and Estonia on their Visit ad limina Apostolorum. In written remarks consigned to the Bishops, Pope Francis noted that the countries of Latvia and Estonia had been oppressed for a long time by regimes founded on ideologies contrary to human…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the participants in the 39th international conference of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization on Thursday. The week-long event (June 6-13) brings together roughly 450 participants from scores of countries and every part of the to evaluate the Organization’s recent activities and plan for the work of the coming…
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(Vatican Radio) This morning, Thursday 11 June 2015, His Holiness Pope Francis received in Audience the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper. Following the Audience, Mr Harper met with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. In the course of the cordial discussion, the good relations existing between the Holy See and Canada were…
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(Vatican Radio) Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met Pope Francis Wednesday evening in a private audience in the Vatican. It was the second meeting between the Pope and the Russian President. A statement issued by the Head of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi said the meeting held between the Holy Father and Russian…
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(Vatican Radio) Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met Pope Francis Wednesday evening in a private audience in the Vatican. I t was the second meeting between the Pope and the Russian President.
A statement issued by the Head of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi said the meeting held between the Holy Father and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place in the Library of the Apostolic Palace.
Click below to hear our report
During the discussions which lasted 50 minutes both the Pope and the President focused on the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
Fr Lombardi said Pope Francis stressed the “need to commit oneself in a sincere and great effort to achieve peace,” adding that both men “agreed on the importance of reconstructing a climate of dialogue and that all sides commit themselves to implementing the Minsk accords.”
Also stressed was the need to address the serious humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Regarding the conflicts in the Middle East, both men discussed the situation in Iraq and Syria.
The Vatican statement highlighted the “urgency” with which the international community must pursue peace efforts, “assuring at the same time the necessary conditions for the life of all components of society, including religious minorities and in particular Christians.”
During an exchange of gifts following the meeting, President Putin gave the Pope an embroidery of the famous Church of Jesus Savior, while the Pope donated a medallion by artist Guido Veroi showing the angel of peace calling for the construction of a world of solidarity and peace based on justice. A copy of the Pope’s Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium was also given to the President.
(from Vatican Radio)…