In a private 40-minute audience, Pope Francis received the President of the Government of the Spanish region of Catalonia.
The latter requested the meeting by letter last June in connection with important events for Catalonia—the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Abbey of Montserrat and the completion of the work on the Sagrada Familia.
Concerning the current Spanish political situation, the President told the media that it is not up to him to speak about the content of the conversation he had with the Pope.
PERE ARAGONÈS
President, Government of Catalonia
I did not notice any unease. The conversation and the meeting with the Pope was very friendly and pleasant. We have spoken about the general political situation along with many other topics. But I insist, I will not be the one to explain what is the position, the opinion, the point of view neither of the Pope nor of the Vatican on these issues of Catalan and Spanish politics. They will be the ones to explain it.
The President presented Pope Francis with a silver figure of St. George, the patron saint of Catalonia, and some literary works by authors from the region.
He also gave the Pope a shirt of his soccer team, signed by all the players.
CA
TR: KG
