Martinelli tells Pope he vows to end poverty in Panama

PRESIDENT Ricardo Martinelli vowed to end poverty in Panama during a private audience with Pope Francisco at the Vatican.

The Argentinian Pope received the delegation of thirteen people, which included former President Mireya Moscoso and two bishops from Panama.

The president then had a private meeting with the pope lasting 26 minutes.
According to a statement from the Holy See, the meeting took place in a "cordial climate" which focused on social policies and development projects that the government has launched.
They also spoke of the long Christian tradition of the country and discussed the current relationship between the church and the state.
At the end of the meeting, the two parties exchanged gifts and posed for pictures.
Martinelli also met with the Minister of Foreign Relations of the Holy See Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.
Prior to the meeting with the pope, the Panamanian delegation attended a ceremony in the Vatican gardens presided over by the President of the Governatorato, Monsignor Giuseppe Bertello, who blessed an image of the Virgen Santa Maria, onated by Martinelli on behalf of the Panamanian people.
It is the second official visit Martinelli has made to the Vatican. The first was in September 2009 when he was received by Benedicto XVI at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome.