Pope & Britain’s Prince Charles discuss environment

(April 28,2009): Pope Benedict XVI and Prince Charles discussed their mutual concern for the environment, as the heir to the British throne brought his campaign to fight climate change to the Vatican on Monday. The meeting between the Pope and Prince Charles, who was accompanied by his wife, Camilla took place in the Pontiff’s private library. The couple sat across a wooden table from the Pope for the 15-minute conversation in English. It was Charles' first visit with the Pope, since his election to the pontificate in 2005. Both Charles and Pope Benedict have made several appeals in recent years on the need to protect the environment.
The cordial discussions provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on certain questions of mutual interest, including the human promotion and development of peoples, environment protection and the importance of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue for furthering peace and justice in the world, Vatican spokesman Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi told reporters after the talks. He also said they exchanged gifts. Charles gave the Pope a set of ceramic dessert plates with hand-painted flowers from his estate at Highgrove, saying he hoped they would be of use to the Pope. The couple also gave the Pope a signed photo of themselves. And Pope Benedict gave the standard gift of medals of his pontificate and an etching of St. Peter's Basilica. Prince Charles thanked him, saying: “I am most touched.”