Lisbon - The Angolan ambassador to Portugal, José Marcos Barrica, met on Friday in Restelo with the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome (CEAST).

Angop learnt that the bishops were returning from Rome, where they met with Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican.

The meeting happened during a lunch offered by Ambassador José Marcos Barrica and his wife Susana Barrica.

The delegation, which is comprised by 24 clerics, is led by the bishop of Cabinda province and vice-president of the referred conference, Filomeno Vieira Dias.

Dom Filomeno Vieira Dias disse que no encontro com Bento XVI foram abordadas questões relacionadas com a vida da igreja no país e o estado da nação angolana com os seus problemas e soluções por parte do Executivo.

The meeting was also attended by counsellor ministers, Isabel Godinho and João Fortes, first secretary, Joana Feijó, finance and administrative attachés, Carlos Nogueira and Ilda Carlos, respectively.