The president of the western African country of Benin, Thomas Yayi Boni, met with Pope Benedict on Saturday to express his thanks for the Church’s work in his country and inform him of the struggles Benin is experiencing.

In a 15 minute conversation, the two leaders spoke about the difficult socio-economic situation the country is experiencing, which has been aggravated by floods this past October.

President Boni also thanked the Pope for the chance to meet with the papal aid organization “Cor Unum” and for the contribution of Catholics to “the development of the country, in the fields of education, healthcare and human promotion".