Pope receives New Zealand Governor General

May 15, 2014 - ‎Pope Francis on Thursday received in private audience in the Vatican the Governor General of New Zealand, Sir Jerry Mateparae, who later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, along with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.‎ A Vatican press statement said that during the cordial discussions the two sides focussed on a number of aspects of the social and economic life of the country, as well as the valuable contribution of the Catholic Church in various sectors of New Zealand society. There was also an exchange of opinions on the international situation, with particular reference to regional cooperation in various development programmes and participation in peace missions in different parts of the world.‎