Republic of the Congo–Holy See relations and Prime Minister Clément Mouamba of Congo were present at the signing of the agreement, as were a number of high-ranking government and religious officials. Cardinal Peitro Parolin visited Brazzaville for the signing of the bilateral agreement, as part of his African tour. Republic of the Congo–Holy See relations Republic of the Congo–Holy See relations refers to the current relations between the Republic of the Congo and the Holy See. The Catholic Church has considerable influence in the Republic of the Congo as about half of the population identify as Roman Catholic. Although the two states established relations in February
Holy See weakened the authority of the Holy See throughout much of Europe. Following the French Revolution, the Papal states was briefly occupied as the "Roman Republic" in 1798–1799 as a sister republic of the First French Empire under Napoleon, before the territority was reestablished. Notwithstanding, the Holy See was represented in and identified as a "permanent subject of general customary international law vis-à-vis all states" in the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815. The Papal States was recognised under the rule of the Papacy and largely restored to their former extent. Despite the Capture of Rome in 1870 by the Kingdom of