Lessons to be drawn from the official visit of President Paul Biya to the Vatican last Friday underline a convergence of views in many subjects with the Holy Pontiff Pope Francis.

It was a veritable convergence of views and values last Friday at the Private library of the Supreme Pontiff situated at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. President Paul Biya flanked by the college of cardinals was led through the Clementina Hall, the Saint Sediari Hall and the Saint Ambroise Hall before being welcomed by the Holy Father in person at the Tronetto Hall besides his private library. After over thirty minutes of talks in camera, they exchanged gifts. President Paul Biya offered the Pope a bronze Statue of the blessed Virgin Mary, a bronze Statue of Saint Francis and some religious outfits. In return, Pope Francis offered the President a medal of his Pontificate. Shortly after the exchange of gifts, President Paul Biya presented his accompanying delegation made up of First Lady Chantal Biya, Vice Prime Minster Amadou Ali, External Relation Minister Professor Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, Minister Director of Civil Cabinet Martin Belinga Eboutou, Minister for Special duties Paul Atanga Nji, Special Advisers Luc Sindjioun and General Fouda Joseph, Ambassadors Antoine Zanga and Dominique Awono Essama and Chief of State Protocol Pierre Bikele. After taking leave of the Pope, the President held talks with the representative of the Secretariat of State of the Vatican Monseigneur Dominque Mamberty in the absence of the Secretary of State recovery from illness. At the end of discussions, President Paul Biya offered the representative of the Vatican Secretary of State a gift with a religious significance.

Convergence of views

The discussions between President Paul Biya and the Supreme Pontiff, according to informed sources, were said to have centred on conflicts that are tearing people apart. Africa came in for a detailed examination. Anther issue that was said to be on the table of the meeting between the two leaders was the on going fight against poverty. Vatican sources said that there was a perfect convergence of views on the therapy to be applied on the aforementioned issues. Dialogue and negotiation to end conflicts and globalisation of fraternity and solidarity and not the globalisation of indifference in the fight against poverty. Informed sources further revealed that the Pope praised the climate of liberty, notably religious liberty and inter-religious harmony in Cameroon. President Paul Biya was said to have expressed his appreciation of the role of the Church in Cameroon to the Supreme Pontiff. They were all said to have pledged to maintain the level of friendly ties between the Vatican and Cameroon. The policy position of Pope Francis on world issues like Lampedusa, Syria and others were applauded by President Paul Biya who was said to have addressed a letter of Salutation to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Like in all visits of this nature, an invitation was said to have been extended to the Pope to visit Cameroon in a date to be arranged through diplomatic channels.

Lessons

Significant lessons can be drawn from this historic visit of President Paul Biya to the Vatican. Firstly, the convergence of views and values between President Paul Biya and Pope Francis ensure a re-enforcement of the already strong and healthy relations between the two personalities and between Cameroon and the Vatican. Global reduction of poverty, dialogue and negotiations as a therapy to be applied to conflicts and the globalisation of fraternity and solidarity are axis around which their collective vision of life revolves. As the moral leader of the world, Pope Francis welds enormous diplomatic wherewithal. One hundred and eighty four countries in the world have relations with the Vatican. Eighty ambassadors have been accredited to the Vatican. The exceptionally close relations between Cameroon and the Vatican obviously place our fatherland on a good stead in international relations. When a country shares the same values with the Vatican and When there is a convergence of views between a leader of that country with the Supreme Pontiff, it is the beginning of wisdom. Accompanied by First Lady Chantal Biya, the fourth visit of President Paul Biya to the Vatican last Friday is a blessing in many forms for Cameroon