Pope Francis meets President Trump

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Source: Vatican Radio/Irish Times

US President Donald Trump met Pope Francis around 8.30 this morning, spending half an hour in conversation behind closed doors in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.

The US leader then met with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, together with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States or foreign minister.

A statement from the Vatican press office said during the course of the cordial encounter, the two men discussed the good bilateral relations that exist between the US and the Holy See. They also spoke of their “common commitment in favour of life, religious liberty and freedom of conscience”.

The statement expressed the hope for a “serene cooperation between the State and the Catholic Church in the United States, which is committed to serving the population in the fields of health care, education and assistance to immigrants.

It said the Pope and the President also exchanged views on international affairs and on the promotion of peace through political negotiations and interfaith dialogue, mentioning especially the situation in the Middle East and the protection of Christian communities.

Trump, who was accompanied by his wife Melania, as well as his daughter and son-in-law, is on the third leg of a nine day presidential tour that has already taken him to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine.

After the papal audience, Trump was taken on a tour of St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, before going onto Rome’s Quirinale palace for a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Melania Trump, meanwhile, was scheduled to visit Rome’s Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital, while his daughter, Ivanka, will meet with trafficked victims who are being cared for by the Sant’Egidio community.

See also, America Magazine's video summary of the meeting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9GI4vcK0Qs