During the meeting, the officials discussed the role of the values in the modern society facing different challenges.
The President of Latvia invited His Holiness to visit Latvia, when the country would mark its centenary. The Pope's visit would be of great importance in the context of ecumenical cooperation.
“There are different religions represented in Latvia as a multicultural country and there is successful cooperation among the Christian confessions. The most urgent example is the Taizé meeting in Riga at the end of 2016. Therefore, ecumenism is a good basis for the integration of society,” stated Raimonds Vējonis. The President of Latvia pointed out that the people in Latvia still remembered the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II to the Baltic States in 1993 very well, which was an unforgettable event both to the Catholics and to all people in Latvia.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed current international issues. The President of Latvia and Pope Francis were unanimous on the need for swift action on environmental protection and mitigating the consequences of climate change. Raimonds Vējonis also welcomed the support of Pope Francis to the idea of a united Europe, as Latvia was also interested in the functioning EU that created added value to every citizen and every Member State.
The President of Latvia also expressed his gratitude for the fact that the Holy See had always supported Latvia’s aspirations for independence and never recognized the incorporation of Latvia into the USSR.
