(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the President of Switzerland, Ueli Maurer, on
Monday morning at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. The Press Office of the Holy
See issued a statement following the meeting, saying the Pope and the President held
"cordial discussions" during the course of which they discussed the safeguarding of
human rights, the formation of young people and promotion of justice and peace. Below,
please find a Vatican Information Service translation of the statmeent from the Press
Office.
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(VIS) This morning in the Vatican
Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received His excellency, Mr. Ueli Maurer, president
of the Swiss Confederation. President Maurer then went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary
of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary
for Relations with States. During the cordial discussions—recalling the centuries-old,
commendable service of the Pontifical Swiss Guards on the annual swearing-in ceremony
of the new recruits—the common desire to further reinforce the good relations that
exist between the Holy See and the Swiss Confederation was emphasized as well as intensifying
the collaboration between the Catholic Church and the State. Then issues of common
interest were covered, such as the safeguarding of human rights, the formation of
youth, and the international collaboration in promoting justice and peace.