Pope Francis receives Colombian President

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday received the president of Colombia,  Juan Manuel Santos. A statement from the Press Office of the Holy See says the Pope and the President held cordial discussions, during the course of which they touched on a number of topics, including the good state and history of bilateral relations an dthe ongoing contribution of the Catholic Church to Colombian society. Below, please find the full text of the official English translation of the Statement released by the Press Office.
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Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father received in audience the president of the Republic of Colombia, His Excellency Mr. Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Colombia were evoked, underlining the contribution the Catholic Church has given and continues to guarantee in favour of the human, social and cultural progress of the population. Among the issues considered, special attention was given to the state of the reconciliation process in the country, the complexity of the negotiations that this entails, and the prospects that could open the way to achieving a peace agreement.

Finally, there was an exchange of views on the regional political and social situation, with attention to the efforts made towards promoting stability in the countries of the area, their harmonious and equitable development, and a culture of legality.