Today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Their Majesties the King Tupou VI of Tonga and the Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho, who subsequently went on to meet with the Cardinal Secretary of State, His Eminence, Pietro Parolin, and with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.
His Majesty first expressed his satisfaction at the election of the first Cardinal from the archipelago, Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, underlining the enthusiasm of the population and the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and numerous Tongans at the Ordinary Public Consistory held on Saturday (February 14).
During the cordial discussions, attention was paid to the recent political developments in the country and on a number of aspects of social and economic life, as well as the positive contribution of the Catholic Church in various areas of society.
There was subsequently an exchange of opinions on the international situation, with particular reference to the insular States of the Pacific and the environmental problems that some of them are compelled to face.
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