Amherd brings up abuse during visit to the Vatican
Published: Friday, May 3rd 2024, 19:30
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During her presidential visit to Italy on Saturday, President Viola Amherd will raise the issue of abuse in the Catholic Church with Pope Francis. On Friday, she met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Amherd told the media in Rome on Friday evening that peace would be a central topic in the talks with the Pope and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin - the number two in the Papal States. She will remind the Vatican of the invitation to the high-level Ukraine peace conference in Bürgenstock NW in June.
At the meeting in the Vatican, she will also address the cases of abuse in the Catholic Church, Amherd continued. The Federal Council expects the Church to combat abuse effectively and take extensive preventative measures.
Equal rights in the church
She also raised the issue of equal rights for women and men in the Catholic Church. For people in Switzerland, equality is part of everyday life and it is incomprehensible to them that women are excluded from church offices and ministries and cannot participate in all decision-making processes, said the President of the Swiss Confederation.
Another topic will be the new barracks for the papal Swiss Guard, which is being built by a private Swiss foundation rather than the Vatican state. Like the federal government and various cantons, the Vatican is making a contribution. Of the CHF 50 million required for the new building, CHF 1.5 million is still missing.
On Monday, Amherd will take part in the defense of the new recruits of the Swiss Guard, as he did in 2023. This always takes place on the anniversary of the Sack of Rome, the Sacco di Roma of May 6, 1527. At that time, 147 Swiss Guards fell in defense of Pope Clement VII.
At the meeting with the Italian heads of state in Rome on Friday, Amherd discussed the ongoing negotiations with the EU. She emphasized the importance of support from the member states. Amherd also conveyed Meloni's invitation to the Ukraine peace conference on the Bürgenstock. The Italian side informed the President of the Swiss Confederation about its goals for the G7 presidency.
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