Monday morning, February 24, 2014 at the Vatican, Pope Francis received in private audience (behind closed doors) President Michel Martelly. Previously, 8 members of the delegation that accompanied the Head of State of Haiti and his wife Sophia Martelly, were presented to the Holy Father who has blessed them individually. They were inter alia : Pierre-Richard Casimir, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Haiti to the Holy See, Karl-Henry Guiteau and his wife, Gregory Mayard-Paul, Special Counsellor to the Presidency and Simon Desras Dieuseul, the President of the Senate.

Following the presentations there was a gift exchange. President Martelly has offered the Pope a frame with a bronze representing a dove of peace and the Pope gave the medal of the Angel of Peace, the Aparecida document (in Spanish, like all the Heads of State of Latin America) and Gaudium Evangelii in French, a special attention for the wife of the Head of State of Haiti.

Following these discussions, the Holy Father received the President Martelly behind closed doors. The interview lasted about twenty minutes, without an interpreter and was held in Spanish, a language that fluent the Head of State of Haiti.

According to a statement from the Vatican "during the cordial discussions, was mentioned the good relations between Haiti and the Holy See, by emphasizing the valuable social contribution that the Church offers to the country, especially in the education and health sector, such as in the areas of social assistance. During the conversation, was discussed the importance of continuing to work to rebuild the country and to promote genuine dialogue between institutional forces for reconciliation and the common good, both internally and externally."

After this head-to-head, the President Martelly, accompanied by Pierre-Richard Casimir and Karl-Henry Guiteau met with the new Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State and Mgr. Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

Next stop on the tour the President Martelly in Europe, Brussels (capital of Belgium and seat of the European Community) where the Head of State Head of State, will be received at the Royal Palace for a head to head with his Majesty King Philip. Thereafter he should talk to Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and Rudy Demotte, Minister President of Wallonia.

President Martelly and the Haitian delegation will return to Haiti, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014.

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre