PHOTOS: President Jonathan Visits the Pope

President Goodluck Jonathan and‎ Pope Francis ‎yesterday held extensive discussion on Nigeria’s position on same-sex marriage law recently passed in the country.
The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Kennedy Opara, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday at the Holy Sea after President Jonathan’s audience with the Pope as well as his tour of the Vatican City.

Opara said the President used the opportunity to state Nigeria’s position on same sex-marriage while the Pope commended Jonathan’s effort in tackling the various challenges facing the country.
The Pilgrims from Anambra, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory, were part of President  Jonathan’s delegation to Vatican City in Rome, Italy but remained at the courtyard while the audience with Pope Francis and Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
Also Nigerian residents in Italy were also in the Vatican City to join President Jonathan in the Papal audience.

President Jonathan’s visit to the Holy See was also an attempt to re-establish contact with the Holy See authorities because they have an important part to play in Nigeria’s affairs, according to the ‎Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Dr. Francis Okeke.
He also conclude his pilgrimage which he started in Israel, October last year.‎
The Ambassador ‎recalled that the Christian religion brought education to Nigeria over 100 years ago, and the Holy See played an important part with other Christian religions in supporting education in Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen after the Papal audience, the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, said Nigeria will benefit alot from President Jonathan’s visit to the Holy Sea.

According to him, Jonathan was the first sitting President to pay a visit to the Pope at the Vatican. From Daily Sun