Moore builds on Scottish priorities during Vatican visit
The Secretary of State for Scotland has used the UK Ministerial visit to the Vatican to discuss key issues such as international aid, human rights, poverty and climate change.
The Secretary of State for Scotland has used the UK Ministerial visit to the Vatican to discuss key issues such as international aid, human rights, poverty and climate change.
Ahead of the ministerial delegation being received by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today, the Minister also met a number of Cardinals and Archbishops in a series of meetings.
They discussed the work of the UK Government in delivering international aid and development was raised as a key issue and the Secretary of State underlined the commitment to helping the world¿s poorest people by becoming the first G20 country to adhere to the pledge to spend 0.7% of our gross national income on overseas assistance.
Michael Moore said:
“This visit has stressed the many areas of common interest which exist between the UK and the Holy See, particularly on important issues such as the global fight against poverty, overseas development and taking steps to combat climate change.
“We have had a very constructive exchange of views on ways we can continue to work together across social, economic and cultural issues for the wider good.”
The Minister also took part in a roundtable meeting between the UK Government and the Holy See in the Vatican this morning, led by the Rt Hon Baroness Warsi and His Excellency Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.
It discussed the importance of the current visit and discussed the willingness of the government to work with the Holy See across a wide range of issues, while welcoming the positive role of the Catholic Church in British society.
The visit marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See in 1982, and follows the successful visit by his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom in September 2010.
Other Ministers in the delegation include:
- The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport
- The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- The Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP, Minister of State for International Development
- Mr Greg Barker MP, Minister of State, Department for Energy and Climate Change
- The Rt Hon the Lord Howell of Guildford, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Credit: Andrew Parsons/ i-images