WILLEMSTAD – Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas had a special audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican on September 18. During this meeting, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Msgr. Luis Secco, Bishop of Willemstad, and Pastor Curtis Meris. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the cooperation between the government of Curaçao and the Catholic Church, with special attention to the development of the Curaçao people.
This is not the first time that a Curaçao prime minister has been received by the Pope. In 2015, former Prime Minister Ben Whitman made a similar trip to the Vatican. The relationship between Curaçao and the Catholic Church has been important for many years, partly due to the worldwide influence of the church on a social level and its ties with more than 183 countries.
During his stay in Rome, Pisas also met with Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, and various other officials. During these conversations, various global issues were discussed, such as poverty, migration, healthcare, humanitarian crises, climate change and economic inequality. Attention was also paid to how to promote people’s dignity and holistic development.
Another important meeting was with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister. Topics such as the situation in Venezuela, the relationship between the Netherlands and Curaçao, and projects carried out through the Diocese of Willemstad were discussed. The cooperation between the Curaçao government and the Catholic Church on the island was also high on the agenda.
The audience and associated meetings mark an important step in strengthening the bond between Curaçao and the Vatican, with the goal of fostering mutual support and cooperation on crucial social and economic issues.
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