There is an interesting discussion going on whether First Lady Margarita Cede?o, a well-respected lawyer, was a good choice to represent the Dominican Republic in Pope John Paul's funeral ceremony. Some suggest that if President Leonel Fernandez (with the First Lady, then) would not attend, then it would have been better to send the Vice President (and his wife) or the Minister of Foreign Relations. Apparently, the First Lady falls fourth in rank and will be seated accordingly, as Vatican protocol goes.
There is also the debate that the Dominican First Lady is divorced, so it is debatable whether she would be received by the new Pope. I remember the debates over whether President Fernandez, also divorced at the time, during his first trip to the Vatican would be received by Pope John Paul II. At the time he was, but in the Pope's library.
Press reports indicate that the only First Ladies that will be attending are those of Panama, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.
President Fernandez recently cancelled an early April trip to Asia after there was much criticism to his frequent travels since taking office.
From information we have received, a suite has been reserved at a leading hotel in Rome just in case President Fernandez decides to make the trip at the last minute.
As per a list published today in Hoy newspaper, the list of heads of state that have confirmed their attendance is impressive ...
Americas: George Bush (USA), Prime Minister Paul Martin (Canada), Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Abel Pacheco (Costa Rica), Oscar Berger (Guatemala), Ricardo Maduro (Honduras), Vicente Fox (Mexico), Enrique Bola?os (Nicaragua). Argentina and Colombia are sending Vice Presidents. El Salvador, Chile and Venezuela are sending their foreign ministers.
Europe: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and King Alberto and Queen Paola (Belgium), President Georgi Parvanov (Bulgaria), President Jacques Chirac (France), Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Apatero, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia (Spain), Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles (UK), President Ferenc Madl (Hungary), President Mary McAleese and Prime Minister Bertie Ahert (Ireland), Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker (Luxembourg), President Jorge Sampaio (Portugal), Prime Minister Mijail Fradkov (Rusia), President Samuel Schmid (Switzerland), and so on.
There is also the debate that the Dominican First Lady is divorced, so it is debatable whether she would be received by the new Pope. I remember the debates over whether President Fernandez, also divorced at the time, during his first trip to the Vatican would be received by Pope John Paul II. At the time he was, but in the Pope's library.
Press reports indicate that the only First Ladies that will be attending are those of Panama, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.
President Fernandez recently cancelled an early April trip to Asia after there was much criticism to his frequent travels since taking office.
From information we have received, a suite has been reserved at a leading hotel in Rome just in case President Fernandez decides to make the trip at the last minute.
As per a list published today in Hoy newspaper, the list of heads of state that have confirmed their attendance is impressive ...
Americas: George Bush (USA), Prime Minister Paul Martin (Canada), Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Abel Pacheco (Costa Rica), Oscar Berger (Guatemala), Ricardo Maduro (Honduras), Vicente Fox (Mexico), Enrique Bola?os (Nicaragua). Argentina and Colombia are sending Vice Presidents. El Salvador, Chile and Venezuela are sending their foreign ministers.
Europe: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and King Alberto and Queen Paola (Belgium), President Georgi Parvanov (Bulgaria), President Jacques Chirac (France), Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Apatero, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia (Spain), Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles (UK), President Ferenc Madl (Hungary), President Mary McAleese and Prime Minister Bertie Ahert (Ireland), Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker (Luxembourg), President Jorge Sampaio (Portugal), Prime Minister Mijail Fradkov (Rusia), President Samuel Schmid (Switzerland), and so on.