04 September 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Merceditas Tuason, with Philippine Embassy in Rome Chargé d’Affaires, Minister and Consul General Leila Lora-Santos, and Philippine Consul General in Milan, Marichu Mauro, welcomed Secretary Albert F. del Rosario upon his arrival at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome on September 1.

Secretary del Rosario commended the successful repatriation of Filipinos from Libya conducted by the Philippine Rapid Response Team (RRT) in Malta led by Chargé d’Affaires Lora-Santos. Malta has become an exit point for many overseas Filipino workers from Libya.

Consul General Mauro conveyed to the Secretary the greetings of the Filipinos from Milan and Northern Italy. She also briefed him on the on-going preparations for the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit to be held in Milan in October 2014 as well as the EXPO Milan in 2015.

Secretary del Rosario visited the Vatican for a meeting with Vatican Foreign Minister, Archbishop Dominque Memberti, to enhance relations between the Catholic Church and the Philippine Government. END