Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves left the State yesterday, on an official visit to the Vatican, at the invitation of Pope Francis.{{more}}

A release from Elson Crick, communications consultant in the Prime Minister’s office, said the delegation includes Eloise Gonsalves, wife of the Prime Minister, Wafic Said, Non-Resident Ambassador of SVG to the Holy See and Rosemary Said, Rhonda King, SVG Ambassador to the UN, Claudia Harris, mother of Mrs Gonsalves, Isis, Storm and Soleil Gonsalves, and Adrian De Freitas a representative of the Catholic Community.

The release said the State is meeting the travel expenses of the Prime Minister, his wife, Ambassador King and Adrian De Freitas. The Prime Minister is meeting the travel expenses of his three children, as well as his mother-in-law Claudia Harris. Non-resident Ambassador Said is meeting the travel expenses for himself and his wife.

The meeting at the Vatican is scheduled for December 19, 2013, at 10.30 a.m., Vatican time. The other Vincentian members of the delegation are already in London, having travelled earlier, except Storm Gonsalves who is already in the UK.

Prime Minister Gonsalves is expected to return to the state on December 28, 2013.