Pope Francis meets Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday morning received the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams. The governor-general later met with the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, who was accompanied by the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

Antigua and Barbuda is a two-island nation on the Atlantic edge of the Caribbean Sea, with a population of just over ninety-thousand,  of whom around ten-percent are Catholic. Once a British colony, Queen Elizabeth II remains the head of state, with the Governor-General serving as her official representative.

A statement from the Holy See Press Office called the meeting “cordial,” and said the meeting underlined good bilateral relations, which have recently been strengthened by the appointment by Antigua and Barbuda of an Ambassador accredited to the Holy See.

The statement said the talks also focused on the contribution the Catholic Church makes in the protection and promotion of the dignity of the human person, as well as in the fields of education and social assistance. It called for a “fruitful and mutual” collaboration.

Finally, the discussions touched on some regional and global issues, with particular attention paid to migration and climate change.