Vatican City, Rome:

President BIYA meets with Pope Francis

Pope Francis Biya and wife

President Paul BIYA and First Lady Chantal BIYA were on Thursday 23 March received by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican City. This was after the president ended a State visit to Italy that ran from 20 to 22 March 2017.

                The Presidential Couple were welcomed at 9:45 a.m. by the Prefect of the Holy See, at the Saint Damasus Courtyard of the Saint Peter’s Square in Rome.

                Pope Francis warmly greeted the H.E. Paul BIYA in French. They later had a 30-minute in-camera meeting at his private library. The Cameroonian leader told the Sovereign Pontiff that he was very happy and honoured to be received again. Both personalities met for the first time on 18 October 2013 at the Vatican, a few months into Pope Francis’ Pontificate. Mrs. Chantal BIYA was equally received during that official visit.

                Nothing filtered from the in-camera meeting between President Biya and the Pope. However, this new encounter indicates that Cameroon and the Holy See continue to share a cordial diplomatic and spiritual proximity which have been built by H.E. Paul BIYA and successive Pontiffs: John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. The fruits of the audiences with these Popes have been priceless.

                Pope Francis took souvenir photos with President Paul BIYA, Mrs. Chantal BIYA, and members of the Head of State’s delegation, after the closed-door meeting.

                President Paul BIYA offered Pope Francis a Negro-African art statuette. The wooden carving represents an African sage in a pensive attitude. In return, Pope Francis gave the Head of State a holy gift. He also gave presents to Mrs. Chantal BIYA and members of the delegation.

                H.E. Paul BIYA equally met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN, at the Clementine Hall.