Pope receives Ecuadoran president

President Rafael Correa of Ecuador paid a private visit to Pope Francis in the Vatican on Friday, and later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican communique said that during the cordial talks the two sides talked about the outstanding contribution of the Catholic Church in the various sectors of social life in the Latin American country, and the importance of a sincere and permanent dialogue between the Church and state in order to face the fundamental challenges of society. They underscored the centrality of social justice and the value of solidarity and subsidiarity in the search of the common good. They discussed themes related to the region, respect for indigenous people, their culture and the protection of the environment.