The President of Georgia - Mikheil Saakashvili hosted the Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Holy See - Monsignor Claudio Gugerotti at the Presidential Palace. The President thanked the Pope's Nuncio, who is going to continue his work in Belarus, for his successful service, mercifulness, tolerance, and contribution in strengthening friendship between the two nations, while decorating Claudio Gugerotti with the Order of Honor.

For his part, the Missionary expressed gratitude to the President of Georgia and noted that he gained a large amount of experience in his 10 years of service in Georgia.

"It has been a great experience, extraordinary experience of warmth, beauty and friendship. And diplomatically, I think it has been a period of great changes, and to be a witness of these changes has been a real privilege. It has also been a privilege to support a people who have suffered because of war and tragic situations, to be able to have gone there in person and shown support of the Catholic Church, and gave the support of hope, to show that we were with them even in troubled times, that has been an experience. And I have to thank the President also for the recent law for the rights of religious minorities. And also for granting me this honor that is extraordinarily appreciated and for me it's very touching.

I wish Georgians a brilliant future and that they never to lose their smile, because if Georgians lose their smile, the world will be sadder."   - noted Claudio Gugerotti after meeting with the President.

Claudio Gugerotti has been an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Vatican in Georgia since 2002.