Pope Francis and Donald Trump meet at Vatican

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Here is more insight on the meeting between Pope Francis, President Trump and others:
President Trump arrived to the Vatican via the side entrance by Casa Santa Marta around 8:15a.m. and was greeted by a group of Swiss Guards in the San Damaso courtyard. After stepping out of the car, Trump and First Lady Melania greeted Cardinal Georg Ganswein and other Vatican dignitaries before entering the Apostolic Palace.
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Pope Francis and Trump smiled as they sat down at the Pope’s desk in the papal library. Pope Francis said, “Welcome!” and Trump responded, “Thank you very much, this is such a great honor.”
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Smiling, Francis explained that he doesn’t speak English well and needs a translator, but added that he was “very happy to meet” Trump.
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catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-trump-hold-landmark-first-meeting-48864/
 
I wonder if they discussed the comparative merits of walls and bridges
 
Here below is the full text of the statement:
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"This morning, Wednesday 24 May 2017, the Honorable Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, was received in Audience by the Holy Father Francis and subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Msgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.
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During the cordial discussions, satisfaction was expressed for the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, as well as the joint commitment in favour of life, and freedom of worship and conscience. It is hoped that there may be serene collaboration between the State and the Catholic Church in the United States, engaged in service to the people in the fields of healthcare, education and assistance to immigrants.
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The discussions then enabled an exchange of views on various themes relating to international affairs and the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue, with particular reference to the situation in the Middle East and the protection of Christian communities."
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m.ncregister.com/53433/b
 
I didn’t think Melania looked well. Ivanka and her husband were there and some of Trump’s cabinet and advisers. Melania seemed subdued.
It was a 30 minute meeting. Not sure they could have had a very in depth discussion about anything in 30 minutes. Then they were given a tour after a photo session.
I don’t think CNN and MSNBC and CBS have been giving a lot of coverage to this important trip. They have preferred to talk about
Russia and the hearings.
The Trump team probably had to compete in the Italian media for coverage vs. the Obamas who are staying at the villa that belongs to Obama’s ambassador to Italy somewhere around Tuscany. Obama has been in Italy since he gave his speech on climate change.
 
I never did hear what gifts were exchanged between Pope Francis and President Trump.
 
7_Sorrows said:
I never did hear what gifts were exchanged between Pope Francis and President Trump.
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washingtonexaminer.com/trump-and-pope-francis-meet-exchange-gifts-for-the-first-time-at-the-vatican/article/2624004

So you don’t have to go to the article, for those who are reading from their phones.
President Trump gave Pope Francis a first-edition set of Martin Luther King Jr.'s writings on Wednesday during their meeting at the Vatican, and the pope gave Trump books he usually gives out as gifts to heads of state.
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According to the White House, Trump gave the pope MLK’s “Stride Toward Freedom” (1958), “The Measure of a Man” (1959), “The Strength to Love” (1963), “Why We Can’t Wait” (1964) and “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” (1967).
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“This is a gift for you,” the president said. “These are books from Martin Luther King. I think you will enjoy them.”
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Trump also gave the pope a hand-made bronze sculpture crafted by an American artist.
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In return, the pope gave Trump three documents: Amoris Laetitia, Evangelii Gaudium and Laudato Si’. He also gave Trump this year’s World Day of Peace message about nonviolence.
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“I signed it personally for you,” the pope said.
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“Ooh,” Trump replied. “That’s so beautiful.”
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Reporters were not able to listen to the substance of the meeting. A pool reporter said the mood “appeared stiff” and the pope “was rather stone-faced” when reporters were let in for a viewing, but “the mood lightened considerably” during a gift exchange.
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“Thank you,” Trump told the pope in front of reporters as he left. “Thank you. I won’t forget what you said.”
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First lady Melania Trump, wearing a black, lace, tea-length dress and black lace veil, was heard telling the pope about her upcoming visit to a Rome hospital, saying: “I’m going to the hospital.”
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The pope was heard asking the first lady about Trump: “What do you give him to eat, potizza?”
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“Potizza,” she repeated, speaking of a treat from her native Slovenia.
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Other administration officials and advisers met the pope, including daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser H.R. McMaster. Aides Hope Hicks, Dan Scavino, Brian Hook and Keith Schiller were also there. The pope handed out tokens in white boxes to each member of the delegation.
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After his visit with the pope, Trump privately met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Quirinal Palace and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni at Villa Taverna.
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Asked at Villa Taverna by a reporter how the meeting went with the pope, Trump said: “Great.”
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“He is something,” Trump said of the pope. “We had a fantastic meeting.”
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Mentioning the prime minister, Trump said: “We’re liking Italy very, very much and it was an honor to be with the pope.”
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Wednesday’s meeting follows contentious exchanges between Trump and Pope Francis during the 2016 presidential campaign after the pope criticized then-candidate Trump’s immigration policies and advocacy for building a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border.
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“A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian,” Francis said in February of last year when a reporter asked him about Trump. “This is not the gospel.”
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Trump responded to the pope in a scathing statement.
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“For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful,” Trump said, adding that the pope hadn’t considered his argument on immigration.
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“The pope only heard one side of the story — he didn’t see the crime, the drug trafficking and the negative economic impact the current policies have on the United States,” Trump said at the time.
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Trump is on the third leg of his foreign trip, following visits, meetings and speeches in Saudi Arabia and Israel over the last several days. He arrived in Rome on Tuesday.
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The president is scheduled to continue his foreign trip by flying to Brussels for meetings with European officials later Wednesday.
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I’m not saying they are 100% politically opposed, but I don’t know if two men of such polar opposite personalities have ever met before.

Yes, yes, hyperbole.
 
Wesrock said:
I’m not saying they are 100% politically opposed, but I don’t know if two men of such polar opposite personalities have ever met before.

Yes, yes, hyperbole.
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With God nothing is impossible. God, who can change the heart of stone to the heart of flesh. They also need our prayers so that they will form a formidable partnership for the betterment of the world. One is a religious leader, the other a world leader with tremendous power in his hand.

Never under estimate God’s grace. They only need to cooperate with it. It must be no coincidence that President Trump decided to meet the Pope. God’s hand may be at work.

It is encouraging to note Trump saying to the Pope, “I will remember what you said.” 👍
 
7_Sorrows said:
I didn’t think Melania looked well. Ivanka and her husband were there and some of Trump’s cabinet and advisers. Melania seemed subdued.
It was a 30 minute meeting. Not sure they could have had a very in depth discussion about anything in 30 minutes. Then they were given a tour after a photo session.
I don’t think CNN and MSNBC and CBS have been giving a lot of coverage to this important trip. They have preferred to talk about
Russia and the hearings.
The Trump team probably had to compete in the Italian media for coverage vs. the Obamas who are staying at the villa that belongs to Obama’s ambassador to Italy somewhere around Tuscany. Obama has been in Italy since he gave his speech on climate change.
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Well, why should the MSM have much love for the Pope, after all he represents everything they are against, Imo, its a better sign to have little or no media coverage rather than with past Papal visits, with the MSM treating the Pope like a rock star.
 
Melania’s bizarre exchange with the laughing Pope as he blesses a rosary for the first lady

Pope Francis made an unusual connection with U.S. first lady Melania Trump on Wednesday, joking with her about what she feeds the hulking 6’2" president.

‘What do you give him to eat?’ he asked her in Italian. ‘Potica?’

‘Potica!’ a delighted Melania responded, laughing. ‘Yes!’

Francis blessed a rosary for the first lady after the lighthearted moment.

Trump tweeted on his way out of Rome: ‘Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world.’
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dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4537590/What-feed-Pope-asks-Potica-not-pizza.html

Some trivia from this encounter:

The Pope loves this Slovenian nut-roll dessert cake. It was reported as pizza earlier on, a mistake by the media.

The First lady speaks six languages, English, French, German, Italian and Serbian in addition to her native Slovenian. 🙂
 
PatrickKen said:
I wonder if they discussed the comparative merits of walls and bridges
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Well they are both pro life so I would think they discussed taking down the biggest wall. The one liberals have constructed against life…abortion. Possibly the Pope thanked President Trump for his efforts in that regard.
 
Trump looked so happy throughout the entire visit. Maybe he was touched by the Holy Spirit!
 
johnnyc176 said:
Well they are both pro life so I would think they discussed taking down the biggest wall. The one liberals have constructed against life…abortion. Possibly the Pope thanked President Trump for his efforts in that regard.
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I doubt that they discussed labels.
 
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