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POPE-MEXICO Jun-4-2007 (360 words) With photo. xxxi
Pope meets Mexican president, but children steal the show
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI and Mexican President Felipe Calderon spoke about serious issues facing Mexico and the international community, but the president's children seemed to steal the show at the family's papal audience.
Maria, the 10-year-old daughter of the president and his wife, Margarita Zavala, gave the pope a teddy bear, which the pontiff blessed. Her 7-year-old brother, Luis Felipe, gave him a shirt from Mexico's national soccer team. And Juan Pablo, 4, had a soccer ball, which he showed to the pope; the ball did not appear to be on the gift table after the children left the room.
The pope and the Mexican president spent more than 20 minutes speaking privately June 4 before Calderon introduced his family and his political entourage to the pope. He also met privately with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state.
The Vatican said Calderon's meetings with the pope and the cardinal included a discussion of events of international importance in view of the June 6-8 summit meeting in Germany of the Group of Eight of the world's most powerful nations; Calderon has been invited by the G-8 to participate.
On themes specifically concerned with Mexico, the Vatican said, the meetings focused on "emigration, the indigenous population, the struggle against violence and drug trafficking (and) the environment."
In addition, it said, the meetings included a discussion of "the situation of the Catholic Church in its relations with the state, especially considering the significant steps forward taken already or still needed."
Mexico's 1917 constitution established a firm separation of church and state and banned clergy from a role in politics, education and media. The application of the constitution's provisions often led to charges that various Mexican governments discriminated against the church and its members.
Mexico and the Vatican restored full diplomatic relations in 1992.
In its statement about the presidential visit, the Vatican said Calderon renewed an invitation for Pope Benedict to visit the country; the Vatican did not say how the pope responded.
END
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