Pope Francis received Prince Albert II of Monaco, who was accompanied by his wife, Princess Charlene, at the Vatican on Monday.
According to the Vatican, during “cordial discussions… the existing good bilateral relations were emphasised and reference was made to the historical contribution of the Catholic Church to the life of the Principality.”
“Attention then turned to various matters of common interest, such as the protection of the environment, humanitarian aid and the integral development of peoples,” the statement said.
The discussion also “considered some issues affecting the international community, such as peace and security, the acceptance of migrants and the general situation in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.”
After his audience with the Pope, the Prince met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States.
In an exchange of gifts, Prince Albert gave Pope Francis a food basket, containing fruit, vegetables and cheese, the Monaco edition of Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, and a medal, while Pope Francis gave the couple a Pontifical Medal and a copy of Evangelii Gaudium.
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