This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the President of the Republic of Honduras, Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, was received in audience by the Holy Father Francis. She presented the Pontiff with a statue of Our Lady of Suyapa, Patroness of Honduras, the volume of a biography dedicated to the President and a local wooden rosary.

Press release:

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the President of the Republic of Honduras, Her Excellency Ms. Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, was received in audience by the Holy Father Francis. She subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

During the cordial discussions in the Secretariat of State, satisfaction was expressed at the good bilateral relations and the will to strengthen them further, also by reaching a Framework Agreement between the Holy See and the Honduran State. The parties then focused on the valuable contribution the Church offers to the country, especially in the fields of education and healthcare, as well as in the sectors of charity, care for migrants and countering poverty.

The conversation then turned to other matters, such as the effects of climate change, and the fight against poverty, highlighting the importance of the continuing commitment to fostering the common good and reconciliation in the country.