Pope Francis meets Romanian Premier

March 01, 2014: On Saturday morning, Pope Francis received in audience Mr. Victor Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania, who subsequently met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, along with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

The Prime Minister conveyed the greetings of the Orthodox Patriarch Daniel. The talks, which took place in an atmosphere of cordiality, were based on the themes of family, education, religious freedom and safeguarding the common values, in the context of the fruitful cooperation between the Holy See and Romania at the bilateral level and within the international community. Noting the potential of the Catholic Church to contribute to the common good of society, they also touched upon some open issues affecting the Catholic community in Romania. Finally, there was an exchange of views on the international situation, in particular by reaffirming the hope that it will pursue the path of dialogue and negotiation to end the various conflicts that plague the world.