Beninese president thanks pope for church contributions to development

Published: 2008-01-14

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI held talks with Beninese President Thomas Yayi Boni, who expressed appreciation for the church's contributions to the country's development. After private talks with the pope Jan. 12, the president also met with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican's chief foreign affairs official. A Vatican statement said the meetings touched on Benin's difficult social and economic situation, aggravated by fall flooding, which destroyed more than 50 villages and left tens of thousands homeless in the West African nation. The government of Benin and the Catholic Church enjoy generally good relations, a fact highlighted during the Vatican encounters. The Beninese president made a point of thanking the pope for "the significant contribution that Catholics offer to development in the country, in the areas of education, health care and human promotion," the Vatican said.

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