Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai has expressed his admiration for the Catholic Church, saying it has made a significant contribution to Liberia’s socioeconomic advancement. The President stated in a speech on Sunday, October 21, 2024, that the church has made contributions by establishing some of the top educational institutions, as well as by providing healthcare, humanitarian relief, and support for human rights.
He asserts that some of the most distinguished academics, scientists, and religious and political figures in Liberia have come from Catholic institutions. He disclosed that 350,000 worshipers are thought to be Catholic in Liberia, and that the Pope is the spiritual leader of 1.5 billion Catholics globally.
According to the Liberian leader, the Vatican established a permanent embassy in Liberia in 1951. “Our relations with the Vatican City-State date back to 1927 when Liberia became the first country in Africa to establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See.”
President Boakai recently met His Holiness Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace in Rome, Italy.
Pope Francis gave President Boakai a bronze sculpture of a dove holding an olive branch during the visit. It said, “Siate messaggeri di pace” (Be ambassadors of peace) in Italian. A copy of this year’s “Message for Peace” and a number of papal papers were also presented to the Liberian president by the leader of the Catholic Church.
Aspects of the nation’s social and economic circumstances were covered during the friendly discussions held at the Secretariat of State, along with the positive ties between the Holy See and Liberia and the cooperation with the Catholic Church in the areas of healthcare and education.
The discussion proceeded to include a discussion of contemporary global issues, specifically pertaining to the regional context and migration trends. Boakai’s visit with Pope Francis is indicative of the solid and long-lasting ties between Liberia and It adheres to Liberia’s history of working with international partners for social advancement, development, and peace in the Holy See.
Pope Francis and President Boakai also discussed the continued cooperation between Liberia and the Catholic Church, especially in the vital fields of healthcare and education.
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
