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Photo Gallery: President Kuczynski, Pope Francis meet in Vatican City

El presidente Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, es recibido por el papa Francisco, en audiencia privada, en el Palacio Apostólico del Vaticano.Foto: ANDINA/ Prensa Presidencia/ Andres Valle

04:50 | Vatican City, Sep. 22.

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Friday arrived at the Vatican Apostolic Palace to hold a private audience with Pope Francis and extend a formal invitation for the Supreme Pontiff to visit the Inca nation next year.

The Head of State arrived alongside his wife Nancy Lange.

Mrs. Lange wore a traditional black dress and veil, following Vatican protocol that women who have an audience with the Pope must wear formal black clothing and a veil to cover their head.

"Filled with faith, I have arrived at the Vatican to personally extend the invitation for His Holiness Pope Francis to visit Peru in January," Mr. Kuczynski posted on Facebook.

Peru's top official landed at Fiumicino Airport in Rome (Italy) on Wednesday, joined by Ministers Ricardo Luna (Foreign Affairs) and Alfonso Grados (Labor and Employment Promotion). 

The presidential delegation also includes Protocol and Ceremony Director-General Juan Carlos Gamarra and Peruvian Ambassador to the Holy See Maria Elvira Velasquez. 

Mr. Kuczynski was received by the Holy See's Head of Protocol Msgr. Jose Bettencourt, who gave him a warm welcome on behalf of the Catholic Church. 

Private audiences with Vatican representatives were held on Thursday to define the subjects to be discussed with the Pope.


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Published: 9/22/2017