Pope meets presidents of Iceland, Chile

(March 04, 2011) The President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson paid a private visit to Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican on Friday, and also held talks with Vatican Secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican communiqué said that during the cordial talks the two sides reviewed the good relations existing for some thousand years between the Holy See and Iceland, since Gudridur Thorbjarnardottir, a woman, first preached the Christian faith in the island. In this regard, Iceland’s president gifted Pope Benedict a statue of this pioneer, who is said to have made a pilgrimage to Rome to meet the Pope a little after the year 1000. During Friday’s talks, the Vatican and Iceland reviewed the esteem that Iceland’s small Catholic community enjoys, as also its contribution to society, especially in the education and social sectors. They also touched upon issues of common interest, both national and international, such as the role of traditional values in building society, and Iceland’s contribution to peace, coexistence and protection of the environment.
Earlier on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI received Chilean president Sebastián Piñera and discussed with him issues of life, development and peace. Pinera also met Vatican Secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican statement said the cordial discussions focused on questions of mutual interest, such as the protection of human life and the family, aid for integral development, the fight against poverty, respect for human rights, social justice and peace. In this regard they underscored the positive contribution of Catholic institutions in Chilean society, particularly in human promotion and formation. The two sides also reviewed the overall situation of Latin America and acknowledged the fundamental value of human coexistence.