The Pope received Pedro Sánchez and asked him to build a homeland "with everyone" in Spain

10/24/2020 10:48 AM

• Clarín.com

• World

Updated 10/24/2020 10:48 AM

Pope Francis received this Saturday at the Vatican the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in a meeting with greater political significance than usual in which the pontiff asked Sánchez to "build the homeland with everyone" and warned him of the danger of the ideologies that "disfigure" it.

Sánchez's visit to the Vatican comes at a very delicate time for Spain - and with high political tension - due to the

coronavirus

, which could lead the government to declare a state of alarm again, as several autonomous communities are already asking for it.

Accompanied by his wife, Sánchez arrived early this Saturday morning and spent two hours in the Vatican.

There, in addition to the audience with the Pope, which lasted 35 minutes, he met with the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

Francisco also met with the Spanish delegation, and took the opportunity to make

on such visits.

Francisco has recognized before Sánchez the "difficult mission" of a ruler to "make the country progress, consolidate the nation and build the homeland" and stressed: "Build the homeland with everyone."

"It is a lot of work, it is not easy, pass it on to the members of your Parliament, what the pope thinks about this," the pope told Sánchez, who just two days ago was successful in the motion of no confidence presented by the party of ultra-right Vox that was rejected by the rest of the parties.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, accompanied by the Swiss Guard of the Vatican, after his meeting with the Pope, this Saturday.

Photo: AP

The Pope also launched another warning to Sánchez in this several-minute speech.

The risk that a country runs when ideologies dominate it.

"It is very sad when ideologies take over the interpretation of a nation, of a country and disfigure the homeland," he said.

Before Sánchez and the officials who accompanied him, the pontiff also said that

and is a question "of service and" not of maneuvers.

Then, he said goodbye to the president and the Spanish delegation with an affectionate message.

"It gratifies me a lot (the visit) and I ask you please to pray for me. And those who do not pray because they are not believers at least send me good vibes that I need," he told them.

This Saturday was the first meeting between Francisco and Sánchez, who a few days ago referred to the Pope as an "unquestionable inspiring figure."

Thorny topics

The multilateralism that Sánchez always defends to address the problems of this time,

were the issues that, according to the Moncloa palace, Jorge Bergoglio and Pedro Sánchez addressed.

On the other hand, the Vatican later reported that Sánchez's meeting with Gallagher stressed

What did not emerge is whether the Vatican official and Sánchez spoke about 

 as the teaching of religion in the educational system, the law to regulate euthanasia planned by the Spanish government or the reform of the

regulation

that is also on table.

They did speak, like Sánchez before with the Pope, about international issues such as the current health emergency, the process of European integration and migrations.

The Pope has also given Sánchez his message of peace this year.

The visit has also left a shocking image at this time, that of all the protagonists of this visit -hosts and guests-

.

Something common, however, in the Pope, who never wears it in the Vatican.

Moncloa sources justified that they followed the instructions of the Vatican and that this has been the protocol. 

By Patricia de Arce, EFE agency

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