Pope Francis received the president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, at the Vatican today, in the midst of the prolonged institutional crisis in that South American country and in a context of strong criticism of the president’s policies due to the repression of social protests in recent years. months.
The pontiff and Boluarte met for 25 minutes in the Private Library of the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Holy See reported.
After seeing the Pope, the president met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, in a talk in which they reviewed the importance of “the construction of social peace”, as well as “the socio-political situation of the region, with particular attention to the phenomenon of migration and the impact of climate change,” reported a Vatican statement.
Boluarte, in his position since December when he assumed power after the institutional crisis resulting from the dismissal of then-president Pedro Castillo, is experiencing harsh criticism for the repression against a series of protests against his Government that left more than 50 dead.
On tour in Europe, this week he faced a request for dismissal from a group of congressmen for alleged “moral incapacity” for leaving the national territory to carry out official activities without having a vice president to perform his duties during his absence.
After the meeting, in an extra ten-minute gift exchange, Francis presented him with a bronze with the inscription “Peace is a fragile flower”, including this year’s message of Peace and the Document of “Human Fraternity.” of 2019.
Boluarte, meanwhile, gave the pontiff a silver tray and an image also with a silver frame of the Holy Family and some Peruvian sweets.
In March, the Pope had already asked to pray for Peru, “which is suffering so much,” while in January he condemned violence “no matter where it comes from” in the South American country.
The president assumed power after Castillo was dismissed by Congress in December of last year, after he tried to dissolve the Legislature and form an exceptional Government.
The president was accompanied by the chancellor, Ana Cecilia Gervasi, and the minister of Economy and Finance, Alex Contreras.
Before arriving in Rome, where today he will have a meeting with authorities from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Office (FAO), Boluarte visited Germany, where he met with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and with businessmen interested in investing in Peru.
Source: Ambito
