MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with concurrent accreditation to the Holy See Sergei Aleinik attended the New Year audience by Pope Francis during his working trip to Vatican on 10-13 January, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The Ambassador participated in the New Year audience by Pope Francis for the diplomatic corps, accredited to the Holy See. Sergei Aleinik held a brief conversation with the Pontiff during the event,” the press service said.
While in Vatican, Sergei Aleinik held bilateral meetings with Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State Archbishop Paul Gallagher, and President of the Pontifical Council for Culture Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi. “The parties discussed issues related to Belarus-Vatican relations, as well as bilateral events scheduled for 2016,” the ministry added.