Pope meets Colombian president

13 May, 2013 - Pope Francis on Monday received in the Vatican President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, who was in Rome with a delegation for the canonization on Sunday of Mother Laura Montoya Upegui, Colombia’s first saint. President Santos later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican statement said the cordial talks between the two sides dwelt upon the relevance of Mother Montoya Upegui as a ‘prolific interpreter of the Christian roots of the nation.” They also spoke about the Catholic Church’s contribution to the promotion of “the culture of encounter” and her contribution of service to the human and spiritual progress of the nation, especially to the needy and youth. They Holy See and Colombia touched upon the challenges that the South American nation was facing, especially social inequality, the on-going peace process and the victims of conflict, hoping that parties in conflict will pursue talks animated by a sincere search for the common good and reconciliation. They acknowledged the commitment of the Church to life and the family.