Bolivian President Morales meets Pope, offers another unconventional gift
April 15, 2016
Pope Francis met on April 15 with Bolivian President Eva Morales, who was in Rome to participate in a conference on economic issues sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences.
A brief Vatican statement released after the meeting indicated that the Pope had spoken with Morales about social conditions in Bolivia, Church-state relations, and international concerns.
Morales-- who had caused controversy in 2015 when he presented Pope Francis with a crucifix formed as the hammer-and-sickle symbol of Communism-- once again offered the Pope a very unconventional gift: a book about the health benefits of coca leaves. Coca leaves are used as the basis for producing cocaine.
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Further information:
- Pope Francis meets with President of Bolivia (Vatican Radio)
- Morales again raises eyebrows with papal gift (AP)
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