VATICAN- He Pope Francisco He received the president of Ecuador Daniel Noboa this Monday at the Vatican, the Holy See reported. This is the first stage of a European tour by the Latin American leader that will also take him to France and Spain.
Francis and the Ecuadorian president met for about 30 minutes, the Holy See indicated, and proceeded to the traditional exchange of gifts.
The pope gave him a bronze sculpture representing a dove with an olive branch with the message “Be messengers of peace,” as well as several books. For his part, Noboa gave the pope a reproduction of the Virgin of the Swan made by Ecuadorian artisans.
Both addressed the socioeconomic situation in Ecuador, especially youth employment, the issue of public security and the situation of immigrants, the Vatican said in a statement. Noboa later met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.
presidential tour
This same Monday, Noboa is scheduled to meet in Rome with representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Program, indicated the Ecuadorian presidency. He is also scheduled to meet with the Italian president, Sergio Matarella.
Noboa arrived in Italy on Saturday on a tour that will also take him to France and Spain and will end on May 21, with the aim of strengthening “Ecuador’s foreign relations in terms of investment, trade and diplomacy,” the presidency indicated.
“We must get closer to the world, bring foreign investment and cooperation in security and energy,” Noboa said, quoted in the statement.
Noboa will travel to France on Tuesday, where he will meet with businessmen, and then continue on to Spain, with planned visits to Murcia, Barcelona and Madrid, three points that bring together an important Ecuadorian diaspora.
Source: AFP
