Pope receives president of Suriname

(November 21, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI received President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan of Suriname in the Vatican on Friday and exchanged with him opinions on current international and regional situation. The Vatican’s Press Office said the two leaders also examined certain aspects of the situation in the South American nation, especially the social policies being introduced by the government on protecting the environment and areas of collaboration between the Church and State. Later, the 73-year old president of Suriname met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and Vatican secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. Suriname, a former Dutch colony, has a population of a little over 481 million, 27% of whom are Hindu, 25% Protestant, 23% Catholic and 19% Muslim.