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President Thabo Mbeki is due to hold talks with the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI tomorrow on ways the Roman Catholic Church can help fight poverty and underdevelopment in the third world.

The Presidency announced today that President Mbeki would, during his two-day official visit to Rome, pay a courtesy call on His Holiness after holding political discussions with the Italian leaders.

The stopover aims to cement political and economic relations between Tshwane and Rome.

President Mbeki will be among the first world leaders to have audience with the German-born Pope following his installation last month.

The selection of Pope Ratzinger drew mixed reactions in the developing world where most of the more than one billion followers reside.

Many particularly in Africa and South America expected one of their leaders to be posted to the Vatican.

However, Mbeki welcomed the election of Pope Ratzinger saying he was convinced that the new Pope would remain an "ally" of Africa and the entire globe.

"South Africa expresses the conviction that Pope Benedict XVI and indeed the Roman Catholic Church will remain seized of and ally themselves with the struggle for a better Africa and a better world," he said immediately after the Pope's election.

Meanwhile, Mbeki is also expected to meet and share notes on global economics with the European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) CEO Summit in Venice during his European tour.

The gathering is the largest of CEOs and Chairpersons in three regions representing numerous multinational corporations in those continents.

It is expected that captains of industry will engage President Mbeki on wide-ranging issues impacting on the corporate sector as well as finding ways to help Africa's fight against poverty and underdevelopment in the continent.

Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa will accompany President Mbeki. - BuaNews

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