Vatican City - Paraguay's President Oscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos on Monday was forced to greet Pope Benedict XVI empty-handed after his gifts for the pontiff including a multi-coloured poncho were delayed in an airport strike. Duarte Frutos met Benedict at the Vatican after arriving in Rome on a flight from France where a strike by baggage controllers meant that some of the Paraguayan leader's luggage did not arrive on time, the Ansa news agency reported.
Benedict for his part presented Duarte Frutos with a medallion during the meeting which according to a Vatican statement focused on the "roles of the Church and the State in politcal life".
"The hope was expressed that Paraguayan society may continue along the path of the common good, of legality and of social peace, inspired by the Christian values of justice and of respect among all citizens," the statement added.
Ahead of Monday's visit Paraguay media had speculated that Duarte Frutos would discuss with the pope the intention by a former Catholic bishop, Fernando Lugo, to run in Paraguay's presidential election scheduled for April 2008.
Lugo who has leftist leanings, has said he intends to break the six-decades long dominance of Paraguayan politics by the Colorado Party of Duarte Frutos whose term expires next August.
The Vatican refused to accept Lugo's resignation as bishop, a post which it has defined "for life" while the Paraguayan Bishops Conference have said he risks excommunication if he keeps up his campaign.
