June 2009

President Niwano Meets Pope Benedict XVI

On June 17, President Nichiko Niwano and five other delegates to the Fourth Summit of Religious Leaders on the occasion of the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, visited the Vatican and met Pope Benedict XVI during the general audience held Wednesdays in St. Peter's Square. It was President Niwano's second meeting with the pope since his first audience during the Papal Inauguration Mass in April 2005 in the Vatican's Clementine Hall.

The six delegates to the religious summit sat in the front row. President Niwano spoke to the pope personally, wishing him good health and success in his activities. The pope welcomed President Niwano, wishing him God's blessing and protection for all his activities.

(Photo courtesy of L'Osservatore Romano.)

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