UNESCO Good Will Ambassador Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis met with Pope Francis on Wednesday 27 November 2019, at the Vatican.

“I thank God for blessing me with the honour of meeting you for a second time.  I would like to express my gratitude for this meeting.  Having dedicated my life to children and their protection, I will be at your side to help you with your godly work in any way I can,” Mrs Vardinoyannis told Pope Francis.

Pope Francis congratulated Mrs Vardinoyannis on her humanitarian work, making special reference to the initiatives she has undertaken for supporting refugees.  Moreover, Pope Francis thanked Mrs Vardinoyannis for building a school for the children of his birthplace in Argentina.

It should be noted that this meeting took place on the occasion of the ΧΙΧ High Level Meeting of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, which was held in Rome, under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic.  Members of the Board of Directors of the International Center took part in this meeting.  Mrs Vardinoyannis is a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

 “I am grateful for your commitment to addressing the principal challenges of our day in order to promote peace through dialogue and mutual respect,” Pope Francis said, among other things, to the members of the Board of Directors of the International Organisation.

Pope Francis offered all the members of the Board of Directors of the NGIC a commemorative medal, while being especially friendly and congenial, and he talked with them, encouraging them to continue their work.