Pope meets Congo-Brazzaville president

December 09, 2013 - Pope Francis on Monday received in private audience in the Vatican president Denis Sassou N’Guesso of the Republic of the Congo, known also as Congo-Brazzaville. N’Guesso later met Vatican Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin. The Vatican Press Office said the cordial talks appreciated the contribution of the Catholic Church to Congolese society, especially in the healthcare and education sectors. Besides commending the good relations between the Holy See and Congo, they touched upon a few issues of common interest, expressing the desire to strengthen their ties further. They talked about humanitarian issues related to Central Africa, such as aid to the displaced and refugees and the issue of security in the region particularly linked with the rise of fundamentalism.