CM ‘humbled’ after private audience with Pope Francis

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6th June 2022

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said he was “honoured and greatly humbled” to meet privately with Pope Francis in the Vatican on Monday, adding he had received “great advice” during their warm and frank conversation.

Mr Picardo was accompanied by his wife Justine and their children Sebastian, Oliver and Valentina, who also had the chance to greet the Pope.

“I enjoyed my time with Pope Francis enormously and felt honoured and greatly humbled to have time to speak openly and freely with Pope Francis in private,” Mr Picardo said.

“His very presence exudes peace and a feeling of deep tranquility combined with good humour and great advice.”

“The reception Pope Francis afforded my wife and children was overwhelmingly warm, friendly and welcoming in every respect.”

“I will value the time I spent with Pope Francis and the wisdom in the words he shared with me."

The Chief Minister presented Pope Francis with the good wishes of the People of Gibraltar and best wishes from the Bishop, Monsignor Carmel Zammit, on behalf of the Catholic Church in Gibraltar.

The Chief Minister also delivered a gold medal of Our Lady of Europe, presented on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar for the People of Gibraltar.”

Photos courtesy of Servizio Fotografico Vaticano.

The meeting was one of eight such audiences in the Pope’s diary on Monday morning, with his conversation with Mr Picardo sandwiched between audiences with Monsignor Baldassare Reina, titular bishop-elect if Aquae in Mauretania, and Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, major archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars, India.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Principal Private Secretary, Peter Canessa.

Who is DARTH VADER in REALITY?
(Yes Earth's REALITY)

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*The recent publicised meeting of Fabian Picardo with the Pope raises questions
*A ‘private’ or ‘public’ trip?
*Was payment out of public funds for a ‘private audience’? If so, why, when austerity reigns?
*Was the Bishop engaged in organising the Papal visit?

A “HUMBLING” EXPERIENCE

It is sobering to read that our Chief Minister, the head of a government which promoted and passed pro-abortion laws in our Parliament, in contradiction to Roman Catholic doctrine, was “greatly humbled” by a private audience (meeting) with Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, last Monday.

He was accompanied to that event by his wife Justine, and his three children. Peter Canessa, a public servant, holding the post of Principal Private Secretary, was also with Mr. Picardo.

WHO PAID?

The visit raises important questions, the first is who paid for the trip? We do not know.

That question becomes highly relevant If the answer is that the trip for all was paid out of public funds at a time of public deficits and increases in public costs to working families in Gibraltar, not to mention the doubling of prescription charges, and making those payable now by persons between the ages of 60 and 65, who previously paid nothing.

It raises the secondary question, was the invitation to the audience addressed to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, or was it to Fabian Picardo?

If it was to the latter, he would not have gone as Chief Minister, and so in a capacity representing the people of Gibraltar. If that is so, there is a further reason why the public purse should not pay for the trip.

PRIVATE VISIT?

Continued at the link.

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*Vatican visit was in Fabian Picardo’s capacity as Chief Minister, so right for public purse to pay costs of Mr and Mrs Picardo
*Family costs paid personally
*Identical transparency and openness should spread to all matters of public cost

Fabian Picardo has today confirmed to GBC that his audience with the Pope last week was in his official capacity as Chief Minister. That being so, it is right that the cost of his and his wife’s trip should have been paid out of public funds.

He has further said that he paid for the expenses of taking his family personally, which is equally right.

It is satisfying that Gibraltar is getting that level of transparency and openness from the Chief Minister on that matter.

One would hope that it is a precursor to more transparency and openness on every front that may engage public monies.

The value to Gibraltar of that visit to the Vatican, in hard times for government finances, is for people decide.

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The Chief Minister says Gibraltar can be proud of how it welcomed the Earl and Countess of Wessex during their three day visit to the Rock.

Reflecting ahead of his trip to the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation, he said the message he takes remains the same regarding Gibraltar's right to self-determination, given that in International Law, Gibraltar remains a colony.

The Chief Minister also confirmed the UK and the EU are 'really close' to reaching an agreement over Gibraltar, but sensitive issues do still remain.

And Mr Picardo also confirmed he was invited to the Vatican to meet the Pope in his official capacity as Chief Minister. Although he was accompanied by his family, he stressed he paid for their expenses personally.

Ros Astengo spoke to Mr Picardo.

14:33 minutes.

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Religions: Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.)

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BitChute backup video:

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CHIEF MINISTER REFLECTS ON THE ROYAL VISIT the UN his AUDIENCE with the POPE AND TREATY TALKS

Where is the barf bag (metaphorically speaking)?

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Please note the Freemasonic grip (handshake) given by the pope to the woman in the photo.