translated from Spanish: Pope Francis and Piñera meet at the Vatican: they address constitutional process

Pope Francis received president Sebastián Piñera today for an hour in a private audience, in what was the second meeting of both in the Vatican and within the European tour of the Latin American president. After the meeting between the two, which took place in the pontifical palace, Piñera met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, Vatican sources said. The president, who arrived at the Vatican accompanied by foreign minister Andres Allamand and Chile’s ambassador to the Holy See, Octavio Errázuriz, then went to the Vatican Gardens to visit the place where last June the mosaic dedicated to the Virgin of the Carmen.Se is a work by the artist Francisca Claro, made with stones collected throughout the territory and that was blessed in a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, Governor of Vatican City State, and cardinal Celestino Aós, archbishop of Santiago de Chile, who blessed the image, and the auxiliary bishop, Alberto Lorenzelli, were also present.During the exchange of gifts between Francis and Piñera, the president presented the Argentine pontiff with a chessboard made of combarbalita, a semi-precious rock, unique in the world, which abounds in Combarbalá, in the north of Chile.While the pope gave Piñera a tile engraved with the image of St. Peter and his writings during this pontificate, as well as the last message of Peace.CONSTITUENT PROCESSThe pope and Piñera, also discussed the process of reform of the Constitution, as well as relations with the Church, during their meeting in the Vatican, part of the president’s European tour.” Today I had the opportunity to have a very personal, very deep and very extensive conversation with the Holy Father,” the head of state said in a message in St. Peter’s Square “Respect for the human rights of all, the value of the family, the value of caring for and protecting our environment, the value of solidarity are fundamental values for the Chile that we all want to build together,” For its part, the Holy See press office assured that, “in the course of the cordial talks, satisfaction was expressed for the good bilateral relations that exist, as well as for the common commitment in favor of peace, social justice and the protection of the poor, the marginalized and the most vulnerable people.” Francisco and Piñera spoke “of the internal situation of the country, paying special attention to socioeconomic development, the process of reform of the Constitution and relations with the Catholic Church,” he said.

Original source in Spanish