King of Tonga
visits the Pope
February 24, 2012
Pope Benedict XVI today received the King of Tonga, His Majesty Siaosi Tupou V, who later met with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Secretary for Relations with States.
The talks focused on the social and economic life of the country, and the positive contribution of the Catholic Church in different sectors of society. This was followed by an exchange of views on the current international situation, with particular reference to the Pacific island states.
Right photo: Tonga university students costumed for a traditional dance.
The Kingdom of Tonga is a sovereign state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over 700,000 square kilometers of ocean in the South Pacific. Fifty-two of the islands are inhabited. Out of its population of 101,000 people, 16,000 are Catholic, with the rest belonging to various Christian denominations.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 25/02/2012 03:53]