This is even as he has assured Pope Francis of his administration’s commitment to work diligently to alleviate poverty in Nigeria through more inclusive economic growth and development.
He gave the assurance at the Vatican when he conferred with Pope Francis on the promotion of inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria and other parts of the world to foster greater global peace and security.
Fielding questions from newsmen shortly before departing to the Netherlands for the Security Summit, President Jonathan noted that the promotion of inter-faith dialogue was a cause to which the Pontiff was very committed.
The President who said that his administration was already working in close collaboration with Cardinal John Onaiyekan who was “the team leader” for the effort to strengthen inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria, assured the Pope of his administration’s continued commitment to the promotion of religious harmony and the peaceful co-existence of people of all faith.
Speaking on his visit to the Holy Sea, Jonathan said, “My coming to see the Pope was to discuss issues, especially that of inter-faith dialogue which the Vatican has been promoting.
“Also the Pope has been advocating that the world should do more to eradicate poverty and make sure that the ordinary people of this world are in a position to live more decent lives. The Pope is very dedicated to poverty alleviation and I also interfaced with him on how we can collaborate more with the Vatican on what we are already doing in this regard back home,” he said.
After his private meeting with President Jonathan, Pope Francis received the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and his spouse, Ekaeta Unoma, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi and his spouse, wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark and other members of the President’s entourage.
Others present at the enlarged audience with the Pope included Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Dr. Francis C. Okeke, the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and former Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.
Before leaving the Vatican, President Jonathan also conferred with the Secretary of State, Monsignor Pietro Parolin.
He had received Nigeria’s Vatican-based Cardinal Francis Arinze earlier in the day at the St. Regis Hotel in Rome.
Earlier, the Pope and President Goodluck Jonathan had held extensive discussion on Nigeria’s position on same-sex marriage and the law recently passed in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Kennedy Opara, disclosed to newsmen yesterday at the Holy Sea after President Jonathan’s audience with the Pope as well as his tour of the Vatican City.
Opara said the President used the opportunity to state Nigeria’s position on same sex-marriage while the Pope commended Jonathan’s effort in tackling the various challenges facing the country.
The Pilgrims from Anambra, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory, were part of President Jonathan’s delegation to Vatican City in Rome, Italy but remained at the courtyard while the President held audience with Pope Francis and Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
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