(ANS - Quito) – The Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, had a telephone conversation with the Hon. Rafael Correa Delgado, President of the Republic of Ecuador, on the evening of Monday 20 April.

The President called the Rector Major and apologized to him for not being able to attend the lunch at the Don Bosco Technical Institute known as The Kennedy. Also, on behalf of the State and the people of Ecuador, he thanked Don Bosco, the Salesian Family and all the Salesians of Ecuador, for all that has been done in these 120 years of Salesian presence in the country.

The gesture of appreciation was very sincere and Fr Á.F. Artime received it with real gratitude, insisting that the President's words were not addressed to him, but "to the many Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians who have given their lives for this nation and for these people. Many of them are Ecuadorians, but many more are missionaries who came from other parts of the world."

President Correa also paid tribute to the Rector Major with a silver casket with a carved peacock on top as a sign of his affection and he reiterated his appreciation for his visit to Ecuador.

It may be recalled in this regard that as a young man President Correa served as a volunteer at the Salesian mission in Zumbahua, a native village of the Ecuadorian Serra 150 km from the capital and 3200 meters above sea level.

Published 24/04/2015