Panama bishops meet with Pope Francis

PANAMA’S  Cardinal and Catholic bishops spent two hours with Pope Francis in Rome, on Thursday June 8.

They met in his private library in the Apostolic Palace of  the Vatican.

The main focus of discussion was on preparations for the 2019 World Youth Day inPanama, with corruption in the country. as a side issue.

“The issue of corruption has been discussed as if it weresomething isolated within Panama, but the Pope  has told us that it is not a Panamanian issue, but one of the world,” said Cardinal Jose Luis Lacunza.

Lacunza said that corruption “above all does harm to the poor.”

“There is a lot to work, a lot to do, but that’s the challenge,” he said.

The delegation of the Episcopal Conference included Archbishop of Panama José Domingo Ulloa, and  bishops Pablo Varela, Uriah Ashley, Rafael Valdivieso Miranda, Manuel Ochogavía Barahona, Edgardo Cedeño Muñoz, Audilio Aguilar Aguilar, Aníbal Saldaña Santamaría and Pedro Joaquín Hernández Cantarero.

The meeting with the pontiff was one which usually occurs every five years, but for  Panama it was delayed by four years.

In practice they are designed so that the delegation of bishops can update the situation of the different dioceses of the country. The last visit occurred in 2008 with Pope Benedict XVI, reports La Prensa

Lacunza described the  meeting as “in a very relaxed, jocular atmosphere.”