Pope Francis meets President of Kiribati

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday received the President of the Republic of Kiribati, Mr. Anote Tong, who subsequently met with the Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

Kiribati is an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean with a population of about 100,000 people.

The Holy See Press Office issued a statement calling the talks between Pope Francis and President Tong “cordial”, and said emphasis was placed on the importance of the protection of the environment and on matters of climate change, which has worrying negative effects on the country, as in other Pacific States. In this regard, the hope was expressed that, on the occasion of the COP-21 to be held in Paris next December, the international Community may adopt concerted and effective measures to face this challenge.