Pope receives Benin’s president

November 19, 2012 - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday received in the Vatican President Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin. Yayi later held talks with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone along with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican communique said that the cordial talks expressed satisfaction over good relations between the Holy See and Benin, particularly recalling Pope Benedict’s 3-day visit to the West African nation in November last year, when Yayi personally welcomed the Pontiff. The two sides also recalled the positive contribution of the Catholic Church to the development of the nation. Among other issues that features in the talks was the value of Africa’s local culture and the importance of the Church in the education to peace and reconciliation in the continent. In view of the Benin’s current chairmanship of the 54-nation African Union, the two sides also reviewed some of the regional challenges of the African Continent.