Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Pope Francis yesterday at the Vatican discussed the promotion of inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria and other parts of the world to foster greater global peace and security.
Speaking to journalists after his private meeting with Pope Francis, Jonathan described inter-faith dialogue as a cause to which the pontiff was very committed.
The president said his administration was already working in close collaboration with Cardinal John Onaiyekan who was the team leader for the effort towards strengthening inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria.
He assured of his administration’s commitment to promoting religious harmony and peaceful co-existence of people of all faiths, adding that the administration would continue to work diligently to alleviate poverty in Nigeria through more inclusive economic growth and development.
Jonathan noted that Pope Francis had always taken a keen interest in Nigeria, saying that the Pope had promised to visit the country and had also pledged to continue to pray for God’s blessings for Nigeria and Nigerians.
“My coming to see the Pope was to discuss issues, especially that of inter-faith dialogue which the Vatican has been promoting. Also the Pope has been advocating that the world should do more to eradicate poverty and make sure that the ordinary people of this world are in a position to live more decent lives.
The Pope is very dedicated to poverty alleviation and I also interfaced with him on how we can collaborate more with the Vatican on what we are already doing in this regard back home,” he said.
The Pope later received the Nigerian First Lady Patience Jonathan, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Governor Godswill Akpabio and his spouse, Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Governor Peter Obi and his spouse, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark and other members of Jonathan’s entourage.
Also present at the audience with the Pope included Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Dr. Francis C. Okeke, the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.
Before leaving the Vatican, Jonathan also discussed with the Secretary of State, Monsignor Pietro Parolin.
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