Vatican City, Jul 3, 2008 / 18:50 pm
Today at Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father received the Governor General of the Solomon Islands, Sir Nathaniel Rahumaea Waena. In the meeting, Benedict XVI discussed country’s state of affairs while the Secretary for the Relations with the States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, thanked him for encouraging youth to participate in the upcoming World Youth Day.
A statement from the Vatican Press Office described the discussions in between the Pontiff and Sir Waena as focusing on “the current political and social situation of the country, and on the significant contribution of the Catholic Church, especially in the fields of education, healthcare and human promotion.”
The secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, also “thanked the governor general and the authorities of the Solomon Islands for their generous outreach to young people who wish to participate in the forthcoming celebration of World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, recognizing the formative importance of the event."