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President Obama Meets With Pope Francis President Obama Meets With Pope Francis
(about 4 hours later)
VATICAN CITY — President Obama met for the first time with Pope Francis on Thursday, sitting across from the pope at a simple desk in the papal library for a discussion that was expected to have explored their philosophical common ground and their differences. VATICAN CITY — President Obama met for the first time with Pope Francis on Thursday, sitting across from the pope at a simple desk in the papal library for a discussion that explored their philosophical common ground and their differences.
Arriving at the Vatican for his morning meeting, Mr. Obama enthusiastically greeted the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. “Wonderful meeting you,” the president said. “Thank you sir, thank you.” A few minutes later, as he entered the library, the president added: “It is a great honor. I’m a great admirer. Thank you so much for receiving me.” After the meeting, Mr. Obama described his discussion with the pope as “wide-ranging” and focused mainly on two issues: how to help the poor and marginalized, and how to confront conflicts.
It was the second papal meeting for Mr. Obama, who met Pope Benedict XVI on a prior visit to the Vatican. But the visit with Francis was laden with more symbolism as both men declare similar ambitions to change the economic fortunes of the working class and the poor. “There was a lot of time talking about the challenges of conflict and how elusive peace is around the world,” Mr. Obama told reporters at a joint news conference with Matteo Renzi, the prime minister of Italy. Mr. Obama said he and the pope discussed the war in Syria and the persecution of Christians around the world.
The 52-minute meeting also came amid some serious disagreements between the Catholic Church in America and Mr. Obama’s administration on issues like abortion, same-sex marriage and contraception. The president said that the pope raised the issue of overhauling immigration policies in the United States, but did not talk about provisions of the Affordable Care Act concerning insurance coverage for contraceptives, an issue that some Catholic bishops in the United States have raised.
Mr. Obama entered the Vatican just before 10:30 a.m., making his way through the center of Clementine Hall, a large anteroom. He proceeded past a dozen members of the Swiss Guard, standing at attention in their traditional purple and gold striped uniforms, designed originally by Michelangelo, with helmets that have bright red plumes. In general, the conversation with the pope, as the president described it, was less confrontational than some observers had expected, with almost no time devoted to abortion, same-sex marriage or other social issues.
Before moving into the private meeting with Francis, the president said: “I bring greetings from my family. The last time I came here to meet your predecessor, I was able to bring my wife and children.” “We actually didn’t talk a whole lot about social schisms,” Mr. Obama said. “In fact, that really was not a topic of conversation. His Holiness and the Vatican have been clear on a range of issues. Some of them I differ with. Most of them I heartily agree with.”
The president and the pope talked between themselves while the delegation from the United States filled the room. Mr. Obama and Francis then stepped toward a table with gifts on them. Mr. Obama said that the Affordable Care Act did come up in a separate talk he held with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state at the Vatican, and that he had told the cardinal he would “continue a dialogue with the U.S. Conference of Bishops to make sure we can strike the right balance” between religious concerns and the objectives of the health law.
White House officials said that Mr. Obama presented the pope with a custom-made seed chest featuring a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds used in the White House Garden. Officials said the chest with the seeds was made from reclaimed wood from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. The president said his meeting with Francis persuaded him that the pope could be helpful in advancing some of the president’s economic goals, even if not directly. “I don’t think that His Holiness envisions entering into a partnership or a coalition with any politicians,” Mr. Obama said. “I do think there is a potential convergence between what policy makers have to think about and what he’s talking about.” He said the pope was “creating an environment in which those of us who care about this are able to talk about it more effectively.”
“These, I think, are carrots,” Mr. Obama said, holding a pouch that contained some of the White House seeds. “Each one has a different seed in it. The box is made from timber from the first cathedral to open in the United States, in Baltimore.” Mr. Obama entered the Vatican just before 10:30 a.m., making his way through the center of Clementine Hall, a large anteroom, and past a dozen members of the Swiss Guard, standing at attention in their traditional purple and gold striped uniforms, designed originally by Michelangelo.
He greeted the pope enthusiastically, and as they walked into the library together, he was heard to say: “It is a great honor. I’m a great admirer. Thank you so much for receiving me.”
Mr. Obama met Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, on a prior visit to the Vatican.
After their private discussion, the two men exchanged gifts. White House officials said that Mr. Obama presented the pope with a seed chest containing a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds used in the White House garden. Officials said the chest was made from reclaimed wood from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.
“These, I think, are carrots,” Mr. Obama said, holding a pouch of seeds. “Each one has a different seed in it. The box is made from timber from the first cathedral to open in the United States, in Baltimore.”
“If you have a chance to come to the White House, we can show you our garden as well,” the president added.“If you have a chance to come to the White House, we can show you our garden as well,” the president added.
Francis, an Argentine and the first pontiff from the global south, gave the president two medallions, including one that symbolized the need for solidarity and peace between the northern and southern hemispheres. Francis, an Argentine and the first pontiff from south of the Equator, gave the president two medallions, including one that symbolized the need for solidarity and peace between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
He also presented Mr. Obama with a copy of “Evangelii Gaudium,” or “The Joy of the Gospel,” the apostolic exhortation that Francis released last November as his call for a new era of evangelization and for a renewed focus on the world’s poor. He also presented Mr. Obama with a copy of “Evangelii Gaudium,” or “The Joy of the Gospel,” the apostolic exhortation that Francis released last November as his call for a new era of evangelization and a renewed focus on the world’s poor.
“I will treasure this,” Mr. Obama said. “I actually will probably read this in the Oval Office when I’m deeply frustrated. I’m sure it will give me strength and calm me down.”“I will treasure this,” Mr. Obama said. “I actually will probably read this in the Oval Office when I’m deeply frustrated. I’m sure it will give me strength and calm me down.”
The pope responded in English. “I hope,” he said, smiling.The pope responded in English. “I hope,” he said, smiling.
“His Holiness is probably the only person who has to put up with more protocol than me,” Mr. Obama said.
When the pope’s interpreter translated Mr. Obama’s comments, Francis smiled. As Mr. Obama departed, the two men shook each other’s hands.
At the conclusion of their meeting, Mr. Obama and Pope Francis stood together, as others filed out of the room, according to a strict protocol.At the conclusion of their meeting, Mr. Obama and Pope Francis stood together, as others filed out of the room, according to a strict protocol.
The gift exchange between the pope and Mr. Obama — an established Vatican tradition when the pontiff meets a visiting head of state — was lighthearted, with both men smiling often. Several times, the president said something that made the pope smile or laugh. “His Holiness is probably the only person who has to put up with more protocol than me,” Mr. Obama said, prompting a smile from the pope after an interpreter translated the remark. They shook hands in an extended embrace as Mr. Obama took his leave.
The warm feelings that were apparent between the two men may reflect their similarities. Both seek to change the institutions they lead, and both are faced with powerful forces that aim to maintain the status quo.The warm feelings that were apparent between the two men may reflect their similarities. Both seek to change the institutions they lead, and both are faced with powerful forces that aim to maintain the status quo.
In a three-paragraph communiqué released on Thursday afternoon, the Vatican described as “cordial” the meetings between Mr. Obama and Francis, as well as a later meeting among the president, his aides and other top Vatican officials. The discussions touched on “current international themes,” according to the statement, as the Vatican also expressed hope for respect for humanitarian and international law in “areas of conflict.” Immigration reform was discussed, while both sides shared a “common commitment” to fighting human trafficking. In a three-paragraph communiqué released on Thursday afternoon, the Vatican described the meetings Mr. Obama held with the pope and with top Vatican officials as “cordial” and touching on “current international themes,” including a common commitment to fighting human trafficking.
As expected, the Vatican communiqué also alluded to the ongoing dispute between American bishops and the Obama administration over provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including the mandate that for-profit corporations must provide contraception coverage in health care plans. American bishops argue that the mandate is a violation of religious freedom. On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case challenging the constitutionality of the mandate. As expected, the Vatican communiqué also alluded to the American bishops’ dispute with the Obama administration over provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including the requirement that insurance plans offered to employees by for-profit corporations include coverage of contraception, which the church opposes. American bishops argue that the mandate is a violation of religious freedom, and the Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case challenging the constitutionality of the mandate.
In the communiqué, the Vatican noted that discussions were held on questions of particular relevance for the Church, including “the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection.” In the communiqué, the Vatican noted that discussions were held on questions of particular relevance for the church, including “the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection.”
The Rev. Thomas Reese, a Vatican analyst, said the phrasing was a sign of support for the American bishops, though it is unclear whether health care issues were very prominent in a discussion that almost an hour. The Rev. Thomas Reese, a Vatican analyst, said the phrasing was a sign of support for the American bishops that did not make clear whether much time was devoted to the issue.
“Did they spend five minutes on this in the 52-minute conversation?” asked Father Reese, a senior analyst for The National Catholic Reporter. “A point to remember is that the Vatican always tries to support the local bishops when they have problems with their government. “Did they spend five minutes on this in the 52-minute conversation?” Father Reese, a senior analyst for The National Catholic Reporter, said of the president and the pope. “A point to remember is that the Vatican always tries to support the local bishops when they have problems with their government. If they were silent, then it would look like the Vatican doesn’t care about the concerns of the local bishops.”
“If they were silent, then it would look like the Vatican doesn’t care about the concerns of the local bishops,” he said.
Mr. Obama is likely to be asked about the meeting at a news conference with Matteo Renzi, the new prime minister of Italy, later on Thursday.
Among the questions that the statements and the news conference could answer: How much did the pope talk about the social issues that have for so long divided Americans? Did he push Mr. Obama to focus more on the poor, not just the struggling middle class? And did the president seek help from the pope for his broader agenda?