Pope meets with the President of the European Union
(November 12, 2011) Soon after meeting the participants in the Vatican conference
on Stem cell research, Pope Benedict XVI met with the President of the European
Council. Mr Herman VAN ROMPUY. Earlier the President had attended a meeting on the
theme: “Living together in today’s Europe.” This is the second time that Mr Rompuy
meets Pope Benedict; the earlier meeting was on the occasion of the Beatification
of Pope John Paul II. After meeting the Pope, the president was received by Vatican
Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone, who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique
Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States. The discussions, which took place in
an atmosphere of great cordiality, provided an opportunity for a fruitful exchange
of opinions on the international situation, and on the contribution the Catholic Church
wishes to make to the European Union.