Pope meets presidents of Malta, Montenegro

March 21, 2014 - Pope Francis on Friday received in private audience President George Abela of Malta, who later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinale Pietro Parolin, and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A brief statement by the Vatican Press Office said the ‘cordial’ talks recalled the deep Christian roots of the history of the Mediterranean island nation. The two sides acknowledged the good relations between the Holy See and Malta, recalling the visits to the island by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. They commended the role of the Catholic Church in education and charity, and the accords for closer cooperation in the service of the common good. They also touched upon issues such as Malta’s contribution to the European Union and the phenomenon of migration towards Europe.
The previous day, Thursday, visiting Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović also met Pope Francis and the two Vatican officials. The Vatican press office said the ‘cordial’ talks expressed satisfaction over the good relations between the Holy See and Montenegro, which have been further reinforced by the Fundamental Agreement, which promotes collaboration between the Church and the State for the common good of society. Sever issues of common interest were discussed by the two sides, with special focus on regional issues and on Montenegro's path towards integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.