There is no doubt that Panama received with enthusiasm the news that it would host the next World Youth Day (WYD) in 2019, but the process to achieve this generated criticism for the persistent involvement of the Government, especially the presidential couple, taking into account that it is mainly the Church work.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the Holy See, Miroslava Rosas, explained that 15 months ago they approached the Pontifical Council for the Laity, which organizes the World Youth Day, to learn what a country should comply with for it to become this religious event venue and, according to the diplomat, they explained that it was an event of the Church, and although the Government's support was important, the Church had to request this.
Then, the Metropolitan Archbishop managed to get the support of Central American archbishops and they submitted to the Pope Francisco a missive from Honduran Cardinal´s hands, Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, with the request on behalf of the region.
Even so, Rosas acknowledged that the primary objective of the foreign policy of the country was bringing the Pope, and this goal headed the list in her diplomatic agenda.
Rosas said that it was not easy, because the competition to host the next World Youth Day "was very strong," referring to South Korea.
"After doing the diplomatic work we put this in the Virgin´s hands and she did the rest (...) we came back hoping that we were in the raffle, and that the Virgin had done her job" she said in a television medium.
When asked about whether it was correct to focus the diplomatic agenda of a country on a religious event, recalling that the Constitution contemplates the separation between religion and the State, Euclides Tapia, specialist in international relations matters said that "in principle it is not", but it all depends on " the eye of the beholder ".
Tapia recalled that in Panama also other religions are practiced and this could feel like excluding, moreover, that activity will coincide with the year in which the country is submerged in the electoral campaign.
Indeed, for the international analyst, Jorge Aparicio, the travel, among other things, intended to create the vision of victory in the next general elections of 2019, with the image or the immense prestige of Pope Francisco.
In his view, the presence of several officials of high rank in Krakow was not relevant, because he had no vision of State.
Aparicio recalled that Panama is facing big problems: hunger, the cost of living, the worsening of the financial structure and environmental order, among others, and these should be the main concern of the rulers of the country, and that does not mean that attending the World Youth Day had not been fine.
"The trip of high-level representatives is not a matter which is well seen, because it gives the vision that the country goes adrift," he added to this medium.
Aparicio said that a foreign policy based on Panama's diplomatic relations with the Holy See would not be enough.
What is fundamental today is developing a foreign policy with a view towards the promotion of global international cooperation with Panama in all areas, to promote the country as such, as a center of attraction, but he considered that doing thus would not be enough.
"It is important that Panama integrates the concerns of the world order that are afflicting humanity which generate the risk of a world war III, that is why I think that the world is in a very delicate political and military situation", he explained.
Presence of the Foreign Relations Minister
For both international analysts, the presence of the Vice President and Foreign Minister, Isabel De Saint Malo, was not necessary because there was no reason of State.
In addition, they recalled that it is the second most important figure in the country and in spite of this she traveled to Krakow, leaving the country in acephaly.
For his part, President Juan Carlos Varela said that criticism is part of public life, and everything that he does in this public life "is focused on the search for the common good".
The first lady, Lorena Castillo, asked to not make this a political issue and suggested to "stop the show" and join together.
"It has been a long path, full of stones and full of criticism, because what we were doing was not understood" said Castillo.
