(UPDATE) Pope to Arroyo: Job well done

Holding up a copy of Republic Act 9346 abolishing the death penalty in the Philippines, Pope Benedict XVI on Monday congratulated President Arroyo for passing a law which the Chief Executive said was the country’s “symbol of faith." “Job well done," the Pope was quoted as telling Mrs. Arroyo after she handed the Pontiff a copy of the law, one of two gifts the President presented at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. The President met with the Holy Father for 30 minutes. She also gifted the Pope with a statue of the Nuestra Senora de Guia. After the private audience with the Pope, Mrs. Arroyo met with the Cardinal Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, then went to the Basilica Crypt of Pope John Paul II. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a news briefing prior to the meeting that the President was to ask the Holy Father to appoint more Filipino cardinals because the Philippines is the third largest Catholic country in the world and the only Catholic country in Asia. Government Mass Media head Cerge Remonde said the Holy See had earlier urged the Philippines to take on a greater role in evangelizing Asia. Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, the President’s brother-in-law who was with Mrs. Arroyo’s party, said the first family prayed for the beatification of their relatives, Rosario and Teresa Arroyo. He claimed that the Arroyos are distantly related to St. Teresa of Avila. Rep. Arroyo said Rosario was the sister of his grandfather Jose Arroyo while Teresa was his father’s sister. He said when the remains of Rosario, who was connected to the Asilo de Molo in Iloilo, was exhumed many years after her burial, it was found to be “uncorrupted," a phenomenon associated with saints. The lawmaker said the same phenomenon happened in the case of Teresa, who performed good deeds before she died at a young age. Her body was found intact 17 years after her death. “We are hoping that we will add a few more saints in our family," Rep. Arroyo said. He said “it feels good that [sainthood] runs in our line and that's why we… should strive to be more saintly." He said he will also pray “that the people will understand the President’s motives and the good she is doing." The President was to have separate meetings with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Romano Prodi to further strengthen the Philippines’ and Italy’s relations. Accompanying the President during her meeting with the Pope were her husband, Jose Miguel, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican Leonida Vera, Philippine Ambassador to Italy Philippe Lhuillier, Rep. Arroyo, and Ma. Josefina Caballos, deputy presidential assistant on foreign affairs. Also with the President were daughter Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo, son Diosdado Ignacio M. Arroyo, daughter-in-law Ma. Victoria Celina Manotok-Arroyo, Mrs. Georgina de Venecia, Mrs. Lovely Rose Romulo, Rufino Luis Manotok, Ma. Aurela Cynthia Manotok and Juris Soliman. - GMANews.TV