The Pope regrets the lack of Dominican Republic-Haiti talks

Vatican City.- Pope Francis on Friday regretted the lack ofdialogue between the Dominican Republic’s and Haiti’s authorities, to find a solutionto the nigh number of migrants and displaced people.

The leader of the world’s more than one billion Catholics alsorequested a response to the shortcomings of the Haitian people, and lamentedthe lack of dialogue between the authorities of the two countries that sharethe island of Hispaniola.

The Dominican Republic and Haiti have broken off talks sincelate last year, in the heels of Port-au-Prince’s political turmoil.

"The Holy Father expressed concern about the socialproblems of the Americas in general, including the US election that lacks a morelively social situation to assist the poorest and the most excluded; social,economic and political conflicts in Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina;the shortcomings of the Haitian people and the lack of dialogue between theauthorities of the countries that share the island, Haiti and the DominicanRepublic, to find a legal solution to migrants and displaced and how tounderstand what is a secular state by some authorities in Mexico and the roleof religious freedom," Vatican Radio reported to the Latin AmericanEpiscopal Council (CELAM).

The Vatican Radio report, signed by Mercedes De La Torre, saidPope Francis met at the Vatican with the presidency of CELAM) and suggestedthem to implement the ‘Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium,’ which aims toimprove the position of lay persons within the church.