Pope blesses Belarusians

Pope Benedict XVI received Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus Claudio Gugerotti.

“During the meeting in Vatican with the Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus, the Pope expressed his interest in the latest events in the country and blessed Belarusian Catholics and the people of Belarus,” Interfax news agency reports.

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti was authorized to hold meetings last week with political prisoners Syarhei Kavalenka, Pavel Syramolatau, Mikalai Statkevich, Ales Byalyatski, Zmitser Dashkevich, Eduard Lobau and Pavel Sevyarynets as a symbol of respect for the universal moral authority of the Holy Father and humanitarian mission of the Holy See.