Vatican City: US President Joe Biden held an unusually long meeting with Pope Francis Friday at the Vatican as a debate about the Catholic president’s support for abortion rights came back home.
The Vatican said the private meeting lasted an hour and 15 minutes and then about 15 minutes were spent taking pictures and exchanging gifts in the presence of other members of the delegation, such as Biden’s wife, Jill.
In 2017 a meeting with former President Donald Trump lasted for about 30 minutes and in 2014 a meeting with Barack Obama lasted about 50 minutes.
Statements from both the White House and the Vatican made no direct reference to the abortion issue.
the White House said Biden He thanked the Pope for “his advocacy for the world’s poor and those suffering from hunger, conflict and oppression”. Biden also praised the Pope’s “leadership in fighting the climate crisis as well as his advocacy to end the pandemic for all through vaccine sharing and a equitable global economic recovery”.
The Vatican said the two discussed “care for the planet”, health care, pandemics, refugees, migrants and “protecting human rights, including freedom of religion and conscience”.
Biden gave Pope a “command coin” sometimes given to soldiers and leaders and told them: “You are the most important peacekeeping warrior I have ever met.”
What he said, citing a tradition associated with the coin, he joked with the Pope: “The next time I see you, if you don’t have it, you have to buy the drink (but) I’m the only Irish person.” I’ve met you who never drank alcohol…”
The visit was surrounded by extraordinarily tight security as the Italian capital prepares to host the G20 summit of world leaders later this week.
Swiss Guard In their traditional red, yellow and blue uniforms and holding halberds, Biden and his wife were given a salute of honor as they and the US delegation arrived at the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. The American flag hoisted from the central balcony.
second catholic president
The meeting between the first Latin American pope and the second Catholic president in American history came amid heated debate in the United States Church, where Biden was under pressure from conservatives over his controversial position in the controversy over abortion rights.
The president, who regularly attends weekly Mass and has a picture of the Pope behind his desk in the Oval Office, has said that he is personally opposed to abortion, but has expressed his views as an elected leader. cannot impose.
The US Supreme Court on Monday will hear the first of two major cases by Biden’s rival Republicans challenging a series of state laws limiting abortion rights. Abortion opponents hope the court will overturn the landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized the procedure nationwide.
Trump appointed three conservative judges to fill the vacant positions to tilt the nine-member court further to the right.
Biden’s most ardent critics in the US church hierarchy have said he should be banned from receiving Communion, the central rite of faith, and doubled down before the meeting.
“Dear Pope Francis, you have boldly said that abortion is ‘murder.’ Please challenge President Biden on this important issue. His continued support of abortion is an embarrassment to the Church and a scandal to the world,” said Bishop Thomas Tobin Providence, Rhode Island, said in a tweet.
In June, a divided conference of American Roman Catholic bishops voted to draft a statement on the communion that some bishops say should specifically warn Catholic politicians, including Biden. They raise the issue again next month.
Asked about the sectarian debate in the US last month, the pope told reporters that abortion is “murder”. But he also appeared to criticize American Catholic bishops for dealing with the issue in a political rather than pastoral manner.
“Communion is not a reward for the perfect. … Communication is a gift, the presence of Jesus And their churches,” the pope said, adding that bishops should exercise “compassion and tenderness” with Catholic politicians who support abortion rights.
Since his election as the first Latin American pope in 2013, Francis has said that while the Church should oppose abortion, the issue should not become an all-consumer battle in the culture wars that divert attention from matters such as immigration and poverty.
The Vatican said the private meeting lasted an hour and 15 minutes and then about 15 minutes were spent taking pictures and exchanging gifts in the presence of other members of the delegation, such as Biden’s wife, Jill.
In 2017 a meeting with former President Donald Trump lasted for about 30 minutes and in 2014 a meeting with Barack Obama lasted about 50 minutes.
Statements from both the White House and the Vatican made no direct reference to the abortion issue.
the White House said Biden He thanked the Pope for “his advocacy for the world’s poor and those suffering from hunger, conflict and oppression”. Biden also praised the Pope’s “leadership in fighting the climate crisis as well as his advocacy to end the pandemic for all through vaccine sharing and a equitable global economic recovery”.
The Vatican said the two discussed “care for the planet”, health care, pandemics, refugees, migrants and “protecting human rights, including freedom of religion and conscience”.
Biden gave Pope a “command coin” sometimes given to soldiers and leaders and told them: “You are the most important peacekeeping warrior I have ever met.”
What he said, citing a tradition associated with the coin, he joked with the Pope: “The next time I see you, if you don’t have it, you have to buy the drink (but) I’m the only Irish person.” I’ve met you who never drank alcohol…”
The visit was surrounded by extraordinarily tight security as the Italian capital prepares to host the G20 summit of world leaders later this week.
Swiss Guard In their traditional red, yellow and blue uniforms and holding halberds, Biden and his wife were given a salute of honor as they and the US delegation arrived at the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. The American flag hoisted from the central balcony.
second catholic president
The meeting between the first Latin American pope and the second Catholic president in American history came amid heated debate in the United States Church, where Biden was under pressure from conservatives over his controversial position in the controversy over abortion rights.
The president, who regularly attends weekly Mass and has a picture of the Pope behind his desk in the Oval Office, has said that he is personally opposed to abortion, but has expressed his views as an elected leader. cannot impose.
The US Supreme Court on Monday will hear the first of two major cases by Biden’s rival Republicans challenging a series of state laws limiting abortion rights. Abortion opponents hope the court will overturn the landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized the procedure nationwide.
Trump appointed three conservative judges to fill the vacant positions to tilt the nine-member court further to the right.
Biden’s most ardent critics in the US church hierarchy have said he should be banned from receiving Communion, the central rite of faith, and doubled down before the meeting.
“Dear Pope Francis, you have boldly said that abortion is ‘murder.’ Please challenge President Biden on this important issue. His continued support of abortion is an embarrassment to the Church and a scandal to the world,” said Bishop Thomas Tobin Providence, Rhode Island, said in a tweet.
In June, a divided conference of American Roman Catholic bishops voted to draft a statement on the communion that some bishops say should specifically warn Catholic politicians, including Biden. They raise the issue again next month.
Asked about the sectarian debate in the US last month, the pope told reporters that abortion is “murder”. But he also appeared to criticize American Catholic bishops for dealing with the issue in a political rather than pastoral manner.
“Communion is not a reward for the perfect. … Communication is a gift, the presence of Jesus And their churches,” the pope said, adding that bishops should exercise “compassion and tenderness” with Catholic politicians who support abortion rights.
Since his election as the first Latin American pope in 2013, Francis has said that while the Church should oppose abortion, the issue should not become an all-consumer battle in the culture wars that divert attention from matters such as immigration and poverty.
.