Above: Pope Francis and Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina (Photo: OP Dominican Republic)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina met Friday with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The 29-minute meeting included talks about the government’s social policy and, at the request of the Pope, the Dominican Republic’s new legislation addressing people born to migrants.

In a statement, Medina’s office said the President also discussed some of the history of relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Medina also invited the Pope to visit the Dominican Republic.

Following the visit with Pope Francis, Medina held talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Holy See, who reportedly showed interest in deepening ties with the Dominican Republic on social policy.

It was the first time Medina and the Pope had met. He was the second sitting Dominican President to meet with the Pope.

Medina’s visit comes a few months after a similar meeting with the Pope by Haiti President Michel Martelly.