Jonathan Holds Private Meeting With Pope Francis In Vatican

President Goodluck Jonathan today, today, held a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The meeting was believed to have centred on 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, President Jonathan said that the promotion of inter-faith dialogue is a cause to which the Pontiff is very committed.
The President said that his administration is already working in close collaboration with Cardinal John Onaiyekan who was “the team leader” for the effort to strengthen inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria, assured the Pope of his administration’s continued commitment to the promotion of religious harmony and the peaceful co-existence of people of all faiths.
He also assured the Pope that his administration will continue to work diligently to alleviate poverty in Nigeria through more inclusive economic growth and development.
President Jonathan who noted that Pope Francis has always taken a keen interest in Nigeria, said that the Pope promised to visit the country.
The Pope, President Jonathan said, also assured him that he would continue to pray for God to bless the country and its people.
“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.”
Before leaving the Vatican, President Jonathan also conferred with the Secretary of State, Monsignor Pietro Parolin.
He had received Nigeria’s Vatican-based Cardinal Francis Arinze earlier in the day at the St. Regis Hotel in Rome.