Konrote presented Pope Francis with a lali (Fiji wooden gong) carved from a mahogany tree that once stood outside Fiji's state-house that was destroyed by Cyclone Winston.

"The wooden lali carving was symbolic to summon the world to take action on climate change," Mr Konrote said.

Konrote, also met with with the Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

Described as fruitful and inspiring for Fiji the unprecedented long encounter centred on the existing good relations between the Holy See and Fiji, the positive contribution of the Catholic Church in Fiji to nation building and Fiji's upcoming global responsibilities on Oceans and climate change.

The President was in Rome to attend the United Nations World Water Day.

He told the meeting there was plenty to glean from Fiji's own experience in increasing access to water and sanitation, particularly in the context of climate resilient development.

He said small nations are disproportionately affected by the impact of climate change, he urged that resilience be kept at the top of the agenda in any deliberation of how best to advance access to sanitation services.

"Developing countries need support to make that happen. That needs to arrive in the form of funding, technical training and assistance and the transfer of relevant technologies."

Jioji Konousi Konrote, widely know as George, was elected president by the parliament of Fiji on October 2015.

He is a retired major general and has had long and distinguished career as a military officer, an international peacekeeper, a senior civil servant, diplomat and politician.

Konrote's election was historic not just because of his a Seventh Day Adventist faith but also because of his minority Rotuman ethnicity and his lack of chiefly ancestry.

More photographs

Source

• vatican radio
• fijitimes.com
• zenit.org
• fiji.gov.fj
• globaltimes.cn
• Image: ansa.it

The reaction came in the wake of a response by the Prime Minister Rear Admiral (Ret) Voreqe Bainimarama on Wednesday suggesting the letter was causing racial discord and did not unite Fijians.

The letter was written by the Methodist Church's secretary for Christian Citizenship and Social Service, Reverend Iliesa Naivalu, to divisional superintendents.

The general secretary of the Methodist Church, Reverend Tevita Nawadra, says he will be writing to the Prime Minister.

"I will be writing to the Prime Minister to affirm him of our earlier stance that we are willing to work together for the betterment of our beloved Fiji," Nawadra said.

He said the church was optimistic of a good working relationship with the government in spite of the embarrassing issue which had caused a slight rift between the two parties.

Nawadra said the issues raised in the letter were based on resolutions passed in the 2014 conference in which more than 1000 pledgees and lay members representing the 56 divisions of the church deliberated and voted on.

"With the election fast approaching, we wanted our members to be fast aware of the conference resolutions before they make up their own mind on who to vote for.

"As you will see while there are references to past government work and policies, there is no mention of any particular political party.

"My understanding of the situation is that Reverend Naivalu's efforts were well intended."

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Republika
• Image: FijiOne

Submissions to the Constitution Commission recommending that Fiji should be declared a Christian State have caused considerable debate.

The idea would continue to be debated, Mr Koroi said, "because many of us accept this concept at face value rather than following Jesus Christ's teaching as recorded in the scriptures, 'come follow me'."

According to Mr Koroi, Fiji needs to separate Church and State — to distinguish clearly between the State's role to govern and the role of Christianity.

Christianity, he said, was personal and to do with a person's living relationship with the living person who is Jesus Christ.

Declaring Fiji to be a Christian State would mean that Christianity became an ideology enshrined in law, and adherence to this ideology would be compulsory.

Mr Koroi said that Christianity was never meant to be like that.

"Christianity is a worldwide religion; it is not sectarian, closed religion of one's own race or country as the Fiji Christian state being advocated by others", he said.

Sources

• The Fiji Times Online
• Image: Fiji Guide