(May 7, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI received Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili in
the Vatican on Friday and the two exchanged views on the Church’s humanitarian operations
and peaceful coexistence among people in the former Soviet republic. Saakashvili
later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary
for Relation with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican statement said
the two sides discussed various bilateral issues and life in Georgia, with both sides
renewing their commitments in favour of intercultural exchange. Both the Holy See
and Georgia acknowledged the positive humanitarian contribution by the Church’s charity
agency Caritas for the entire population. They also encouraged peaceful coexistence
among believers of various religions for the common good. The two sides urged that
difficulties in the region be resolved through dialogue and negotiation among parties.