Pope Receives Gabonese President

(December 12, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI received President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon in the Vatican on Thursday and the two expressed appreciation for the role of the Church in the development of the west central African nation. A Vatican statement said the cordial meeting expressed satisfaction over the good relations between Gabon and the Holy See, adding the talks dwelt on the contribution Catholics make to the development of the country, and to the integral progress of the Gabonese people, particularly in the field of education. Gabon has a population of more than 1.5 million, of those 55%-75% are Christian, and less than 1% are Muslim.