Vatican, 17 August, 2023 / 8:29 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis met Thursday with the Catholic president of Madagascar, Andry Nirina Rajoelina. The president was accompanied by his wife of 23 years and three young adult children.
The 49-year-old politician and businessman has led the country of Madagascar in his current term since January 2019. He also led a provisional government in the country from 2009–2014.
According to the Vatican, after a 20-minute private conversation, Pope Francis invited Rajoelina and his family to pray a Hail Mary together before a Marian image he had received from the bishops of Madagascar.
The pope and delegation were also photographed together next to a miniature of a ship, a gift Francis received on the occasion of his 2019 visit to the island country.
Madagascar's President Andry Nirina Rajoelina gave Pope Francis a solitaire game with marbles made from local Madagascar stones during a meeting at the Vatican Aug. 17, 2023. Vatican Media.