The Vatican (Wednesday, May 24, 2017, Gaudium Press) In “cordial discussions” between Pope Francis and President Donald Trump this morning, “satisfaction” was expressed for “good existing bilateral relations” as well as “the joint commitment in favour of life, and freedom of worship and conscience.”
In a statement, the Vatican said it is also “hoped that there may be serene collaboration” between the Church and the Trump administration “in the fields of healthcare, education and assistance to immigrants.”
During their half-hour meeting, the two leaders also discussed “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.”
Areas of convergence such as respect for life and religious freedom were stressed, as well as those issues of divergence such as immigration, although the statement did not refer to the environment, also an area where the Pope and Trump have differed.
Here below is the full text of the statement:
“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.
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.
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.”
Today’s much anticipated meeting, which took place in the library of the apostolic palace, began shortly after 8.30 a.m. with some nervous smiles and a somewhat serious Pontiff but ended in a relaxed, familiar and warm atmosphere, according to the two reporters who were present.
Both Trump and the Pope have had very public differences over immigration, and to a lesser extent environmental policy, although common ground exists regarding protection of the unborn, religious freedom, and peace in the Middle East, aspects that were evident in the Vatican’s statement.
“Welcome!,” the Pope said on greeting Trump. “Thank you so much. A very great honor,” Trump replied. The Holy Father said he did not speak English very well and called over his translator, Gibraltarian Msgr. Mark Miles, who acted as his interpreter for the meeting.
Shortly after 9 a.m. the doors to the library opened and the First Lady, Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner entered to greet the Pope. They were followed by other members of the president’s 12-member delegation who included Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, H.R. McMaster, National Security Adviser, and Louis Bono, chargé d’affaires at the U.S. embassy to the Holy See.
At the exchange of gifts, the president gave the Pope a box of books from Martin Luther King, commenting: “I think you’ll enjoy them, I hope you do.”
Francis presented Trump with his usual gifts to world leaders: copies of his social encyclical, Laudato Si, his two apostolic exhortations Amoris Laetitia and Evangelii Gaudium, and a signed copy of his World Day of Peace Message for this year. Trump responded: “Well I’ll be reading them.”
Also as with other world leaders, the Pope presented a large bronze medallion of an olive tree. “It’s by a Roman artist, of an olive tree which is a symbol of peace,” the Pope said. “This is one of my great desires, that you can be an olive tree for peace.”
“We can use peace,” Trump replied.
On being introduced to Melania Trump, the Pope asked: “What do you give him [the president] to eat, potizza?”. She repeated “potizza,” which is a Slovenian treat.
The First Lady had the Pope bless a religious object, probably a rosary.
As they departed, Trump said “good luck” to the Pope, adding: “Thank you, thank you, I won’t forget what you said.”
He and other members of his delegation then walked to the lower floor of the apostolic palace where they had a meeting with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations With States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
While at the Vatican, Trump made a point of greeting six American priests and sisters working in the Secretariat of State.
Source National Catholic Register/ Edward Pentin
