This morning the Holy Father Francis received in audience Professor Alpha Condé, president of the Republic of Guinea, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the existing good relations between the Holy See and Guinea were evoked, with emphasis on a number of issues of mutual interest, such as the integral development of the person, the preservation of the environment, the fight against social injustice and poverty, and the development of adequate policies for facing the problem of migration. In this context, the parties did not neglect to highlight the role and the important contribution offered to the country by Catholic institutions, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare, as well as in the promotion of interfaith dialogue with the Muslim community.

Attention then turned also to the political and social situation of the Region, with special reference to the concrete efforts made by the Republic of Guinea to contribute to peacemaking.