Pontiff Greets Cape Verde Prime Minister

(September 09, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI greeted Jose Maria Pereira Neves, prime minister of Cape Verde, today after the weekly general audience, held in Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. In the course of the "cordial" talks between the Pontiff and the prime minister, it was noted that the Vatican and Cape Verde enjoy "good bilateral relations," and that the Church offers a positive contribution to the "entire archipelago-nation," reported a communiqué of the Vatican press office. Hope was also expressed for "an ever closer collaboration in the health and educational fields," added the press statement. The Vatican reported that in the course of the audience, it was decided to institute a "bilateral working commission to elaborate a framework agreement between the Holy See and Cape Verde." Pereira Neves was received earlier by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope's secretary of state, accompanied by the secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. Cape Verde, an island country of 10 islands that are located off the coast of Western Africa, has a population of some 500,000 inhabitants, 98% of whom are Catholics. 45 percent of the people live in rural areas and has 85 per cent literacy level.