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| Obama: Pope Francis “challenges us” on economic and social issues | Obama: Pope Francis “challenges us” on economic and social issues |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| ROME-President Obama joined Pope Francis on Thursday at the Vatican, a meeting of two world figures with radically different politics but a shared concern that the global economy is dangerously dividing rich and poor. | ROME-President Obama joined Pope Francis on Thursday at the Vatican, a meeting of two world figures with radically different politics but a shared concern that the global economy is dangerously dividing rich and poor. |
| The visit, watched closely here by an avid media and curious Romans who hung from balconies to see Obama’s motorcade pass, is the most symbolic stop of the president’s European trip. | The visit, watched closely here by an avid media and curious Romans who hung from balconies to see Obama’s motorcade pass, is the most symbolic stop of the president’s European trip. |
| The two greeted each other Thursday morning outside the Papal Library in the Small Throne Room, extending hands and smiles. | The two greeted each other Thursday morning outside the Papal Library in the Small Throne Room, extending hands and smiles. |
| “Wonderful meeting you, I’m a great admirer,” Obama said. “Thank you sir, thank you.” | “Wonderful meeting you, I’m a great admirer,” Obama said. “Thank you sir, thank you.” |
| The men withdrew into the Papal Library, and took seats on the opposite sides of the pope’s desk. “Thank you,” Obama said, “for receiving me.” | The men withdrew into the Papal Library, and took seats on the opposite sides of the pope’s desk. “Thank you,” Obama said, “for receiving me.” |
| The meeting lasted less than an hour. But the encounter has been charged with the politics of the world’s most powerful nation and one of its most influential religious movements, and by a pair of men who have sought to change the public character of the institutions they run. | |
| The central shared concern, and one Obama will likely emphasize in his appearance before the media later Thursday, is the harmful effects of economic inequality. | The central shared concern, and one Obama will likely emphasize in his appearance before the media later Thursday, is the harmful effects of economic inequality. |
| “The Holy Father has been an inspiration to people around the world, including me, with his commitment to social justice and his message of love and compassion, especially for the poor and the vulnerable among us,” Obama said an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. “And he doesn’t just proclaim the Gospel, he lives it.” | “The Holy Father has been an inspiration to people around the world, including me, with his commitment to social justice and his message of love and compassion, especially for the poor and the vulnerable among us,” Obama said an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. “And he doesn’t just proclaim the Gospel, he lives it.” |
| “Given his great moral authority, when the Pope speaks it carries enormous weight,” Obama continued. “That’s why I quoted him in my speech on income inequality.” | “Given his great moral authority, when the Pope speaks it carries enormous weight,” Obama continued. “That’s why I quoted him in my speech on income inequality.” |
| Obama, who while not Catholic has religious roots in the social gospel embraced by this first non-European pope, is pushing at home for a higher minimum wage, education spending to increase economic opportunity, and changes in the tax code that would draw more money from the wealthy. | Obama, who while not Catholic has religious roots in the social gospel embraced by this first non-European pope, is pushing at home for a higher minimum wage, education spending to increase economic opportunity, and changes in the tax code that would draw more money from the wealthy. |
| His political popularity, though, is wobbling. An AP-GfK poll this week showed that nearly 60 percent of respondents disapprove, among the highest of his presidency. | His political popularity, though, is wobbling. An AP-GfK poll this week showed that nearly 60 percent of respondents disapprove, among the highest of his presidency. |
| “He is going mostly to bask in the glow of the new pope,” said Jeremy Shapiro, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and a former adviser on Europe in the State Department earlier in Obama’s tenure. | “He is going mostly to bask in the glow of the new pope,” said Jeremy Shapiro, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and a former adviser on Europe in the State Department earlier in Obama’s tenure. |
| “This isn’t really a foreign policy stop - so in that sense it’s very important to the president,” Shapiro said. | “This isn’t really a foreign policy stop - so in that sense it’s very important to the president,” Shapiro said. |
| Obama came to office promising to change the world’s perception of the United States, emphasizing alliances over unilateral action, diplomacy over military measures, and a “new beginning” with Islam after years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. | Obama came to office promising to change the world’s perception of the United States, emphasizing alliances over unilateral action, diplomacy over military measures, and a “new beginning” with Islam after years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| “One of the things I’ve worked to do is reorient American leadership,” Obama said. “No nation is perfect, but American resolve and the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform have helped to liberate nations from tyranny, defend Europe during the Cold War, and defend the universal human rights of people around the world.” | “One of the things I’ve worked to do is reorient American leadership,” Obama said. “No nation is perfect, but American resolve and the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform have helped to liberate nations from tyranny, defend Europe during the Cold War, and defend the universal human rights of people around the world.” |
| Pope Francis, too, has attempted in his first year to recast the image of the Catholic Church as an institution close to its adherents. He has struck a more tolerant tone regarding homosexuality, condemned the lavish life-styles of some church figures, and personally administered to the poor, the imprisoned, and others on society’s growing margins. | Pope Francis, too, has attempted in his first year to recast the image of the Catholic Church as an institution close to its adherents. He has struck a more tolerant tone regarding homosexuality, condemned the lavish life-styles of some church figures, and personally administered to the poor, the imprisoned, and others on society’s growing margins. |
| Obama has praised such commitment. | Obama has praised such commitment. |
| But Pope Francis has significant political disagreements with the president, including over the deportation of undocumented immigrants that divides families, the contraception requirements in the Affordable Care Act, and gay marriage. | But Pope Francis has significant political disagreements with the president, including over the deportation of undocumented immigrants that divides families, the contraception requirements in the Affordable Care Act, and gay marriage. |
| “One of the qualities that I admire most about the Holy Father is his courage in speaking out on some of the great economic and social issues of our time,” Obama said. “It doesn’t mean we agree on every issue, but his voice is one that I think the world needs to hear. He challenges us.” | “One of the qualities that I admire most about the Holy Father is his courage in speaking out on some of the great economic and social issues of our time,” Obama said. “It doesn’t mean we agree on every issue, but his voice is one that I think the world needs to hear. He challenges us.” |
| Obama presented the pope with what the WhiteHouse described as “a custom-made seed chest featuring a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds used in the White House Garden.” The gift echoed the pope’s announcement earlier this month that he would open the gardens of the papal summer residence, the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, to the public. | Obama presented the pope with what the WhiteHouse described as “a custom-made seed chest featuring a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds used in the White House Garden.” The gift echoed the pope’s announcement earlier this month that he would open the gardens of the papal summer residence, the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, to the public. |
| The White House said the chest is made from “American leather, and features reclaimed wood from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals built in the United States.” The White House said seeds will also be donated “to yield several tons of produce, to a charity of the pope’s choosing.” | |
| Obama received a copy of Francis’ exhortation, the Joy of the Gospel, an extended essay in which he calls for a church “which is poor and for the poor.” | |
| Obama said he would likely read it “when I’m deeply frustrated. I’m sure it will give me strength and calm me down.” |