AMERICA/EL SALVADOR - The Church's expectations from the visit of President Obama: welfare and development, emigration

San Salvador (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Church in El Salvador awaits the visit from the President of the United States, Barack Obama, with a positive outlook, hoping to establish the basis for a “radical reform for emigration,” said Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas of San Salvador. “We expect that in the dialogue between the President of the United States and our authorities there is respect for our sovereignty and freedom, and that in the business of the welfare of our country, the development and commercial growth of the nation is considered,” added the Archbishop. “The meeting should not stop at the maintenance of good diplomatic relations, but must deal with the emigration issue. From this visit should come a solid promise for the benefit of our immigrant brothers,” said the Archbishop to local press.
The visit of President Obama to El Salvador will take place from 21-25 March, and will be his first visit to Central America. From here he will travel to Brazil and Chile. According to information provided by specialized agencies, about two and a half million Salvadorans live in the United States of America. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 01/02/2011)