"During the cordial talks - a Vatican statement informs - the good bilateral relations existing between the Holy See and France were underlined, and the contribution of religions to the promotion of the good was pointed out, with particular reference to the commitment of the Church. common".
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Migration, protection of the environment, commitment to the resolution of conflicts, with the examination of particular situations, such as the Middle East and Africa were the topics addressed by Pope Francis in his meeting today with the French president Emmanuel Macron, who then met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state, who was accompanied by Msgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.
The Vatican statement on the meeting reads: “"During the cordial discussions, the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and France were highlighted, and the contribution of religions to the promotion of the common good of the country, with particular reference to the commitment of the Church, was noted”.
The current French president, in fact, is attentive to the Catholic Church, a very different attitude from that of its predecessor, who was officially atheist. "We have seen the president's outstretched hand," said the secretary of the French episcopate, Olivier Ribadeau Dumas.
The Vatican's note goes on to say that "attention then turned to global issues of shared interest, such as the protection of the environment, migration, and multilateral commitment to conflict prevention and resolution, especially in relation to disarmament. The conversation also permitted an exchange of views on various situations of conflict, particularly in the Middle East and in Africa. Finally, there was a joint reflection on the prospects of the European project. ".
Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte and a delegation, is in Rome to receive the title of Honorary Protocanon of the chapter of the basilica of Saint John Lateran.
Pope Francis went to meet the French president in the Sala del Tronetto and entered the private library with him. The private conversation at the Pope's desk lasted over 50 minutes, with a priest acting as interpreter. Francis introduced him saying: "He has spent a long time in Africa".
At the time of the exchange of gifts, the president offered the Pope a copy of Bernanos's Diary of a Country Priest. Francis in turn gifted the president with a medal of Saint Martin, bishop of Tours, famous for the episode in which he gave his cloak to the poor, in addition to his documents Evangelii gaudium, Laudato Sì, Amoris Laetitia, Gaudete et exsultate and the last Message for World Peace Day. "It is - explained the Pope - a medal made by a Roman artist of the last century. A portrait of Saint Martin. And it aims to emphasize the vocation of the rulers to help the poor. We are all poor".