Pope Benedict XVI receives Chile's President Sebastian Pinera
Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday received the president of the Republic of Chile, Sebastian
Pinera, at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, where the two spoke for nearly half
an hour, and exchanged gifts: Pope Benedict received a silver thurible that is a copy
of one in use in the Cathedral of Santiago de Chile, and President Pinera received
Pontifical Medals.
A statement from the Press Office of the Holy See says the
Pope and the President held cordial discussions that focused on questions of mutual
interest, such as the protection of human life and the family, aid for integral development,
the fight against poverty, respect for human rights, social justice and peace.
The
statement goes on to say the Holy Father and President Pinera also considered the
general situation in Latin America, and noted that that the views of the Holy See
and the Chilean government on the fundamental values of human coexistence, converge.
They
also stressed the positive role Catholic institutions play in Chilean society, especially
in the areas of human promotion and education.
Following his meeting with the
Holy Father, President Pinera went on to meet with the Cardinal Secretary of State,
Tarcisio Bertone, who was accompanied by the secretary for Relations with States,
Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.