Pope Francis receives Lithuanian Prime Minister Butkevičius

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday met with the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Algirdas Butkevičius. A communiqué from the Press Office of the Holy See says the Pope and the Prime Minister used their colloquy to discuss a number of issues of regional and global import, as well as to highlight the good relations between the parties. Below, please find the full text of the Communiqué.

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On the morning of Thursday, 19 September 2013 in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy
Father Francesco received in audience the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Algirdas
Butkevičius, who subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone, S.D.B., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with
States.
During the course of the colloquial discussions, the parties acknowledged the good relations
between the Holy See and the Republic of Lithuania, and focused in particular on the
contribution offered throughout the centuries by the Catholic Church in educational and social
fields, as well as her commitment to the support of families and to improving awareness of
spiritual values.
In view of the fact that the Republic of Lithuania currently holds the presidency of the
Council of the European Union, the discussions turned to various international and European
matters of mutual interest. Special mention was made of the need to ensure peace in the Middle
East and in particular in Syria, favouring a political solution to the crisis through dialogue and
negotiation.