Pope receives President of Equatorial Guinea

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis this morning, 25 October 2013, received in audience the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who then met with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial talks, the positive contribution of the Catholic Church in favour of the human, social, and cultural development of the country was recalled, particularly in the fields of education and welfare, as was the collaboration with the State to improve the standard of living of the population.

At the end of the visit, in the hall of the Treaties of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Secretary for Relations with States proceeded to exchange the instruments of ratification of the Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea on the relations between the Catholic Church and the State, which was signed in the city of Mongomo on 13 October 2012.

The Agreement, which confirms the good existing bilateral relations, recognizes the legal personality of the Church and its institutions. It also concerns canonical marriage, places of worship , educational institutions, and spiritual assistance to the Catholic faithful in hospitals and prisons. With today’s solemn act, the Agreement, consisting of 19 articles and an Additional Protocol, entered into force pursuant to Article 18.1.

From the Vatican, 25 October 2013.