Pope Says Latvia Major Cultural, Political Center Of Baltic Region

Pope Francis said on Monday during his visit to Riga that Latvia was one of the main political and cultural centers in the Baltics.

RIGA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th September, 2018) Pope Francis said on Monday during his visit to Riga that Latvia was one of the main political and cultural centers in the Baltics.

The pontiff's visit to the Baltic region started on Saturday and will continue until Tuesday.

"I am happy to be here for the first time, both in Latvia and in this city, that, like the entire country, has known difficult social, political, economic and spiritual struggles, the fruit of past divisions and conflicts, yet today has become one of the principal cultural, political and shipping centres of the region," the pope said at his meeting with Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, as cited by the press release.

The pope has already visited Lithuania earlier in his journey to meet with the Lithuanian authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.