Communique Translated from Dec. 10. 2009 The Holy Father Benedict XVI today received in audience the President of the Republic of Gabon, H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba, who later met with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, and Mons. Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations with states. During the conversations, they recalled the late President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, who died recently. There have been good relations between the Holy See and Gabon in the context of the framework agreement conculded in 1997 and its subsequent developments. The talks dwelt on the contribution that Catholics make to the integral progress of the Gabonese, particularly in the field of education.