The President of Peru, Keiko Fujimori, He stated this Tuesday that it would “never” occur to him to “snub” Pope Leo
“It would never occur to me to snub Pope Leo XIV. I am a believing and practicing Catholic.“Fujimori declared to Canal N when asked about the request for authorization from Congress to be absent from the country from November 15 to 21, that is, one day before the end of the Holy Father’s visit.
The papal visit begins in Peru on Wednesday the 11th, will tour the cities of Lima, Callao, Chiclayo, Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Cusco, Pucallpa, and will conclude next Monday the 16th with a massive mass at the Las Palmas Air Base, in Lima.
The president explained that He has a meeting scheduled with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, on the 17th for which it has not been possible to change the date. and stressed that it is important to participate in APEC activities, which will begin on the 18th in Shenzhen (China).
“We are very excited and (the pope) is going to be received by all Peruvians,” Fujimori said, but added that “as president, I have state obligations to fulfill.”
On Monday, the head of state requested authorization from the Senate to travel to China to participate in the Leaders’ Week of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) and subsequently make an official visit to Japan, the country from which her ancestors come.
Fujimori’s request to leave the country covers November 15 to 21with the purpose of participating in APEC activities in Shenzhen and later making the state visit to Japan on November 20.
“The meetings will allow us to address specific issues of common interest in terms of trade and investment, infrastructure, connectivity, and international cooperation (especially in terms of technology and energy transition), as well as explore new opportunities for cooperation in other areas,” said the Presidency in the document presented to the Senate.
In Shenzhen, the head of state of Peru also plans to participate in a working meeting with American businessmen organized by the United States-APEC Business Coalition, in which several Peruvian ministers will also attend.
Fujimori’s arrival in Japan It will occur at the request of the president, who expressed to the Japanese government her interest in carrying out a state visitwhich was accepted by Tokyo, which has organized a summit between the president and the Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi.
The meeting will allow them to review the state of bilateral relations, reaffirm their strategic partnership and consider the main issues of the 2024-2033 Road Map, in addition to signing a series of diplomatic agreements.
His father, former president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), took refuge in Japan after resigning by fax in 2000, precisely after participating in an APEC summit held in Brunei, after a gigantic corruption plot established in his administration and managed directly by his right-hand man, advisor Vladimiro Montesinos, came to light.
What the Pope said about Alberto Fujimori
When Robert Prevost was bishop of Chiclayo, before becoming the Pope Leo XIVspoke out in 2017 after the pardon granted to Keiko’s father, Alberto Fujimori.
He questioned whether the apologies offered by Fujimori were “generic” and pointed out that They were not enoughsince there were numerous families who bore the pain of the victims of their government.
He stated that it would have been more effective to personally and explicitly apologize for the acts committed during his administration and for which he was tried and sentenced.
