Vatican: Boni Yayi expected in Vatican on Sunday

Beninese president Boni Yayi will pay a three-day visit to the Vatican from Sunday during which he will preside over a function that focuses on training, entrepreneurship, management and good governance, a press release issued by the Beninese Foreign Affairs ministry said on Friday.

The Benin president's participation will also enable him to attend a function to immortalize the memory of Beninese Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, with the creation of a seat at the pontifical university, that will bear the name of the distinguished Beninese prelate who had chaired the world archbishop conference.

President Yayi, current African Union chairman, will call on Pope Benedict XVI to discuss bilateral as well as African and international issues.

From 18 to 20 November last year, Pope Benedict visited Cotonou to celebrate150 years of Benin’s evangelization.