(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the President of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos Fonseca,
today, in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. The Pope and the President held cordial
discussions in which they recalled the good relations between the Holy See and Cape
Verde, as well as their bi-lateral Accord, which is to be signed shortly in the Verdean
capital. Below, please find a Vatican Information Service translation of the communiqué
from the Press Office of the Holy See, which was issued following their meeting.
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(VIS) – [Monday] in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in audience
His excellency Mr. Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, president of the Republic of Cape
Verde. President Fonseca then went on to meet with the Secretary of State, Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary
for Relations with States. During the course of the cordial discussions, the good
relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Cape Verde were recalled. Spoken
of in particular was the Accord between the Republic and the Apostolic See regarding
the Catholic Church's juridical status in that country, which will be signed shortly
in the capital, Praia, during Archbishop Mamberti's upcoming trip to the archipelago. Also
mentioned was the cultural and religious identity of the Cape Verdean population,
which is almost entirely Christian, as well as the role that the Catholic Church has
played and continues to carry out in the country with her educational and health institutions. In
conclusion, some important challenges and situations that particularly concern the
region and the topic of the presence of numerous Cape Verdeans in various countries
around the world were also noted.