.- Pope Benedict XVI received the President of Malta, his wife and a delegation on Thursday morning at the Vatican. In discussions with the Vatican's Secretary of State, the president of the Catholic country spoke about certain trends in Maltese society and the ongoing issues in the Middle East.
President George Abela touched on several topics with the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, including the role of the Catholic Church in Maltese society.
“Consideration was also given to the international situation, with particular reference to the Middle East and Africa, and to the positive contribution Malta can make to resolving the problems there," a press release from the Vatican said.
Later in the evening, the president and his wife will attend an official dinner hosted by Fra’ Matthew Festing, Grandmaster and Prince of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
