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CURRENT ISSUE: June 18, 2007 • VOL. 45 NO. 12 • Oakland, CA
Pope, Bush discuss wide range of
issues, including Christians in Iraq
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| President George W. Bush meets with Pope Benedict
XVI at the Vatican, June 9. During their meeting the president gave
the pope a walking stick and documents from the U.S. National Archives
and the pope gave the president a gold papal coin. CNS PHOTO/KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS |
VATICAN CITY
(CNS) -- Meeting for the first time, Pope Benedict XVI and U.S. President
George W. Bush spoke about the precarious situation of Christians in Iraq
and a wide range of other foreign policy and moral issues.
The pope and president looked relaxed as they greeted each other and spoke
briefly in front of reporters before their 35-minute private encounter
June 9. Bush later held a separate 40-minute meeting with the Vatican’s
top foreign policy officials.
A Vatican statement described the meetings as “cordial” and
said they had focused in part on “the worrisome situation in Iraq
and the critical conditions in which the Christian community finds itself.”
Tens of thousands of Christians have fled Iraq over the last four years
to escape violence and discrimination.
The talks also touched on the overall situation in the Middle East, including
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and developments in Lebanon.
“The Holy See again expressed the hope for a ‘regional’
and ‘negotiated’ solution to the conflicts and crises that
are tormenting the region,” the Vatican statement said.
Bush and the pope also discussed problems in Africa, the humanitarian
crisis in Darfur and developments in Latin America, it said.
“Finally, there was an examination of current moral and religious
questions, including those related to human rights and religious freedom,
the defense and promotion of life, marriage and the family, education
of new generations and sustainable development,” the Vatican said.
Before the president’s visit, the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, went out of his way to praise Bush for his position
on abortion and for “positive initiatives in favor of the defense
of life from conception.”
Bush arrived at the Vatican under very heavy security. His motorcade entered
St. Peter’s Square from a side street instead of along Via della
Conciliazione, the wide avenue leading to the Vatican, which had been
cleared of cars and was lined with curious onlookers.
In the sunny St. Damasus Courtyard, the president was greeted by U.S.
Archbishop James Harvey, one of the pope’s private secretaries,
who escorted him past a picket of Swiss Guards and up an elevator to the
fourth floor of the Apostolic Palace for the papal audience.
The pope smiled broadly as he greeted Bush just outside his private library.
The two men shook hands, and the pope ushered the president to a large
desk. Reporters and photographers were allowed to stay for the first minute
of the encounter.
“It’s good to be with you sir,” Bush said as he sat
down opposite the pope, crossing his legs and leaning back in a white
chair.
“You come from the conference in Heiligendamm?” the pope said,
referring to the Group of Eight meeting of the heads of industrialized
countries in Germany.
“I did, your old country. And it was successful,” the president
replied.
“Successful? You had some decisions? It’s not so easy,”
the pope said. He said it was important for humanity that conferences
like this produce decisions.
“It was, you know, a lot of different opinions. But it was good.
It was good,” Bush said.
After reporters left, the two leaders met privately without aides or interpreters.
When the doors of the library opened, Bush’s entourage was led into
the room and the president introduced them, one by one, to the pope.
