The Pope meet with Croatia's new prime minister, Tihomir Oreskovic, on Thursday morning at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
'It's a pleasure.â?
With the help of a translator, they held a cordial discussion for 30 minutes, in which they remarked the good relations existing between the Holy See and Croatia. They also spoke about the canonization of Croatian Cardinal Stepinac, the migrant and refugee crises and the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels.
Afterward, the prime minister introduced the Pope to his wife and his four children.
When they exchanged gifts, Pope Francis received a small box from the Prime Ministers youngest son. Then, he tenderly hugged the young boy.
The second gift was this, a book
written in Croatian and he explained its meaning.
'I present this to you. This is a book that was written in Croatian.â?
Pope Francis gave him a copy of Evangelii Gaudium and his encyclical, 'Laudato Si.â? He also presented him a medallion from his pontificate.
The Prime Ministers wife was emotional as she said goodbye to the Pope.
'Thank you for everything.â?
'Pray for me.â?
'Thank you. You too.â?
The previous visit of a Croatian Prime Minister to the Vatican took place in October 2012 when the then Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic visited Pope Benedict XVI.
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