Pope Francis receives Prime Minister of Samoa

(Vatican Radio) Today, 3 December 2015, the Holy Father Francis received the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa, His Excellency Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, who  subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by  Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, under-secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the Parties focused on some aspects of the social and  economic life of the country, as well as the valued contribution of the Catholic Church in various  sectors of Samoan society and, in particular, in the field of education. This was followed by an exchange of opinions on the international and regional situation, with special reference to the Conference on climate change currently taking place in Paris, and the  environmental problems that some Pacific island states must face.