May 02, 2014 - Pope Francis on Friday received in the Vatican president José Eduardo
dos Santos of Angola, who later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin
along with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.
A Vatican statement said that the “cordial discussions” recalled the good relations
between the Holy See and the Republic of Angola, especially the planned bilateral
Agreement regarding the legal state of the Catholic Church in the southern African
nation. The two sided acknowledged the important contribution of the Catholic Church
to the country through its educational and healthcare institutions. They also focussed
on various challenges of Angola and the region, such as the fight against poverty
and social inequality, the full development of the person, reconciliation, justice
and peace, with particular attention to the different situations of conflict that
affect the African continent. Also on Friday, Pope Francis received a delegation
from the Islamic Centre from his native Argentina.