Pope Urges Path of Dialogue in Meeting with Georgian Leader
(07 May 10 – RV) Pope Benedict XVI received in audience this morning the President
of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili.
A statement
from the Vatican press office said that during the meeting, the Pope renewed his appeal
that the “difficult situation in the region be resolved through dialogue and negotiation
between the parties concerned”.
The Pope also encouraged “a peaceful coexistence
among believers of different religions for the common good”.
Situated at the
juncture of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, bounded to the west by the Black Sea,
to the north by Russia, Georgia is an independent state since 1991.
Like many
post-communist countries, it suffered from economic crisis and civil unrest during
the 1990s. After the Rose Revolution, the new political leadership introduced democratic
reforms, but the nation continues to suffer slow economic growth.
In August
2008, Georgia engaged in an armed conflict with Russia and separatist groups from
South Ossetia. After mediation by the European Union, the parties reached a preliminary
ceasefire agreement on 12 August.
During Friday’s meeting with Pope Benedict
XVI the Georgian leader, who was accompanied by his wife, recognised the “positive
humanitarian contribution of Caritas” which is operative in the region. And renewed
the commitment to favour intercultural exchanges.
At the end of the audience
in the customary exchange of gifts President Saakashvili gave the Pope two icons,
one depicting a famous Georgian monastery and another with an image of St. George.
The Pope presented the leader with a fountain pen styled along the design
of Bernini's columns.
After meeting with the Pope, the President of Georgia
met with Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was accompanied by Msgr.
Dominique Mamberti, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States.