Pope Discusses Protecting
Life With President Of Guatemala
VATICAN CITY (CNA) - The Pope was smiling
and looked rested during his audience with
the President of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom
Caballeros, on Friday morning. The
discussions centered on regional issues,
including the sanctity of life.
The Vatican said that the president's
conversation with the Holy Father, and later
Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone
and secretary for the Secretariat of State
Archbishop Dominque Mamberti, was
highlighted by comments on the "good
relations" the Church enjoys with the State
in Guatemala and the contribution of the
Church to the nation's development.
They also exchanged perspectives on
international issues, with the challenges
posed by poverty, organized crime and
emigration being of particular interest.
Additionally, the importance of promoting
life from conception until death and of
education were touched on during the
discussions.
Following the private, 20-minute long visit
with the Pope, the two leaders exchanged
gifts. The Pope gave President Colom
Caballeros a gold medal of his pontificate,
while he received two jade figures, one an
eight-inch tall Mayan pyramid of the jaguar
and the other a figure from Mayan mythology
created in northern Guatemala.
The president was accompanied by his
Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as
secretaries from his staff during his visit
with the Holy Father in the Papal Library.
The meeting took place just after the third
and final Lenten meditation offered by Fr.
Raniero Cantalamessa in the Redemptoris
Mater chapel. |
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