USA - New Mexico / Italy / Vatican: Governor Bill Richardson met Pope Benedict today before commemorating New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty. then he met Rome's Mayor, Gianni Alemanno

Governor Bill Richardson met Pope Benedict today before commemorating New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty with a ceremony at Rome's Colosseum. Richardson, a former Democratic presidential candidate and one of the most prominent U.S. Hispanic politicians, met the pope for several minutes at the end of the pontiff's weekly general audience at the Vatican, Richardson's spokesman said. The 2 discussed New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty last month (see March 18), among other issues, the spokesman added. He said the repeal was a positive step for his country. "It signals that America is moving the right way on abolishing the death penalty, especially when a Western conservative state like New Mexico takes the lead," Richardson said. Later, Richardson and Santa Fe's archbishop Michael J. Sheehan attended an event honouring the repeal of the death penalty with the special lighting of Rome's Colosseum. Both then met with Rome's Mayor, Gianni Alemanno.