PNoy, Pope Francis discuss Mindanao peace process, climate change

President Benigno Aquino III met Pope Francis for a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on Friday.

"During the cordial discussions, the dialogue between the various members of Filipino society was evoked, as well as the contribution of the Catholic Church to the life of the country," read a statement from the Holy See Press Office.

"Special reference was made to the peace process in Mindanao, with the hope that commitment from the Parties may guarantee stable and lasting peace to the region."

With some six months in office, Aquino has been pushing for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law,  the legal framework of the peace accord between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The measure is still pending for approval both in the House of Representatives and the Senate, with Aquino left to hope that the legislature hammers it out before the next administration.

"Walang guarantee na next time, when we get around to it, nandyan pa rin ‘yung mga nagne-negotiate in good faith na talagang totoong—ito ang end point na gusto nila," Aquino said last month.

In addition, Aquino and the Pope had "an exchange of opinions on the international and regional situation, with special reference to the question of climate change and the COP21 Conference in Paris."

Last June, Pope Francis issued Laudato Si, an encyclical on climate change that is the first papal document dedicated to the environment. He demanded demanded swift action to save the planet from environmental ruin, urging world leaders to hear "the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor."

The encyclical followed his January trip to the Philippines, where he visited areas struck by super typhoon Yolanda, which left more than 6,000 people dead and affected more than 16 million people. The COP 21 conference aims to mitigate the effect of climate change on countries like the Philippines, which remains at perennial risk of extreme weather events.

45-minute meeting

The meeting was held at the Pope's library and lasted about 45 minutes, according to Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma.

"The Pope's gifts: a copy of Laudate Si, his latest encyclical on the protection of the environment; a scupture cast in bronze - an olive branch holding two halves of a cleft rock with these words -the scuplture is a metaphor for the duty of every state and person to build a culture of peace: 'to seek what unites, to overcome what divides,'" said Coloma.

In turn, Aquino gave Pope Francis a bone-china tea set made in the Philippines by designer Ito Kosh. The set included white cups and saucers depicting rural Philippine life. Aquino also gave the pope a box of Philippine dried mangoes.

Aquino also met with the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin for about 30 minutes. —JST, GMA News