Pope meets Madagascar’s transition president

26 April, 2013 - Pope Francis on Friday received in the Vatican, Madagascar’s transition president, Andry Nirina Rajoelina, who later also met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican communique said that during the cordial talks the two sides reviewed the good relations between the Holy See and Madagascar, and touched upon some aspects of the Indian Ocean island nation. They recalled Madagascar’s efforts in the search for stability and democracy, greater economic development and rebuilding international relations. The two sides underscored the important contribution of Madagascar’s Catholic Church in support of national dialogue and its indispensable grassroots commitment in the health and education sectors.