Rome, Italy (TDN)
On Friday February 22, 2016 the Head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis received the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Charles Angelo Savarin at the Vatican in Rome.
A communique issued by the Holy See Press Office described the meeting as being cordial and indicated that the parties discussed the issue of climate change and the recent destruction in Dominica left by the passage of Tropical Storm Erica.
Discussions also focused on the bilateral relations between the Holy See and Dominica, and it noted the “opportunity for a fruitful and mutual cooperation between the State and the Catholic Church, an institution which offers a significant contribution to the promotion of the dignity of the human person, as well as in fields such as the education of young people and offering assistance to those most in need.”
President Savarin also met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States. Their discussions focused on regional and global issues, in particular the protection of the environment.
The President was also accompanied by Edward Lambert Dominica’s nonresident Ambassador to the Holy See and Dr Gerald Grell and Francis Emanuel.
Dominica established diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1982