Pope Francis meets with President of Latvia
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday met with Andris Bērziņš, President of the Republic of Latvia, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.
The Holy See Press Office issued statement describing the discussions taking place in a “cordial atmosphere”, and during which the good relations between Latvia and the Holy See were evoked, as well as the positive contribution made by the Catholic Church to society, especially in the fields of education and social welfare.
Mention was then made of various aspects of life in the country, as well as international matters of common interest, particularly in view of Latvia’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which beings January 1, 2015. Special attention was also paid to the situation in Ukraine, in the hope that a political solution, based on law, may be sought through dialogue.
