WASHINGTON –
Barack Obama
was moved by
Pope Francis
‘ viewpoint regarding global issues.
Donald Trump
indicated that the pope’s words only strengthened his resolve to seek peace.
Joe Biden
Francis was pleased that he maintained his status as a devoted Catholic.
There was a time
When the notion of a president interacting with a pope was once inconceivable, anti-immigrant feelings in the 19th century were primarily directed at Catholics, casting popes as deceptive heads of an enigmatic cult. However, times evolve. Popes and presidents transform alongside them.
When Francis assumed leadership of the Catholic Church in 2013, encounters between the president and the pope were frequent occurrences. Throughout his twelve-year tenure as pope, Francis,
who died April 21
, encountered all three individuals who held office as President of the United States during his time as pope.
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The discussions between the Pope and American leaders occurred at the Vatican as well as in Washington, encompassing presidents from various political affiliations.
Obama was deeply touched by Francis’ perspectives on global issues.
Francis had only been pope for slightly more than a year when he
met with Obama
For the initial occurrence in Rome back in March 2014.
The two leaders had differing views on certain matters. While Obama was in favor of same-sex marriage, the church stood against it. Additionally, the Vatican disagreed with the requirement under the Affordable Care Act for Catholic hospitals and organizations to offer healthcare plans covering contraceptives like birth control pills and abortifacient medicines, a stance rooted in religious principles. This conflicted with their beliefs.
However, Obama stated that these matters did not arise during his discussion with Francis, which occurred roughly halfway through his second term as President at the White House.
Obama stated they discussed instead topics such as international conflict, human rights, and religious freedom, along with “the duties we all have to look after the most vulnerable among us—the impoverished and those who are marginalized.”
“His observations deeply affected me regarding the significance of everyone adopting an ethical viewpoint when addressing global issues rather than merely considering their personal interests,” Obama stated additionally.
Obama extended an invitation for the pope to tour the United States. The following year,
he did
.
On Sept. 22, 2015,
Pope Francis
A shining white Alitalia aircraft—commonly referred to as “Shepherd One”—landed at Joint Base Andrews near Washington as the pope commenced a significant six-day, three-city tour.
It marked the first occasion for Francis to step onto American ground. The pope, who speaks Spanish, entered the U.S. after stopping over in Cuba, having engaged in an “unofficial and cordial” meeting with Fidel Castro, according to statements from the Vatican.
In Washington, Francis greeted enthusiastic spectators, hugged kids, and enjoyed the splendor of an official welcome ceremony held at the White House South Lawn. Flanked by Obama in front of a gathering of policymakers, notable figures, and everyday people, Francis supported Obama’s initiatives aimed at reducing air pollution and tackling global warming.
“When it comes to the care of our ‘common home,’ we are living at a critical moment of history,” he said.
Obama stated that Francis highlighted the fact that “we bear a holy duty to safeguard our Earth – this incredible legacy from God.”
The following day, Francis created history as the inaugural pope to speak before a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol. An audience of approximately 50,000 people gathered outside and viewed his remarks on large screens known as Jumbotrons. His call for inclusivity resonated deeply with the attendees; they erupted in applause when he referenced Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic march from Selma to Montgomery and called upon legislators to welcome “those among us who are strangers.”
A few minutes after wrapping up his speech, Pope Francis appeared on a Capitol balcony with a group of dignitaries that included two prominent Catholics, Biden and House Speaker John Boehner. The pontiff blessed the masses below and asked them to pray for him.
Trump clashes with ‘quite decent fellow’ Pope Francis
Trump had disagreements with Pope Francis well before they ever came face to face.
A few days after
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio
In 2013, he was chosen to become the next leader of the Catholic Church. At that time, Donald Trump, who was a businessman and television personality, expressed doubt about the thriftiness of the individual who would later be called Pope Francis.
“I dislike envisioning the Pope waiting at the front desk of a hotel to settle his account,” Trump posted on Twitter. “That just doesn’t seem very papal!”
When Trump announced his bid for presidency and became the leading contender within the Republican Party in 2015, he stated that the Pope appeared “to be quite a nice person” yet criticized him for being overly involved in politics. During an appearance on CNN where he was asked about what reaction he would have if the Pope were to tell him that capitalism had harmful effects, Trump responded with, “I’d say, ‘ISIS has plans for you.'”
Several months afterward, Trump stated that the pope lacks an understanding of the issues confronting the United States, notably the unrestricted border with Mexico. In response, the pope implied that Trump “does not deserve to be called a Christian,” as the latter advocated for removing migrants and constructing a barrier at the U.S.-Mexico frontier during his tenure as a Republican candidate.
“A person focused solely on constructing walls, regardless of their location, rather than building bridges, does not embody Christian values,” he said to reporters. “This contradicts the teachings of the Gospel.”
Trump said that Pope Francis’s comments were “dishonest.”
Four months into Trump’s presidency, he met with Francis during his initial overseas visit as the leader of the Western world.
private meeting
occurred on May 24, 2017, in Vatican City.
Photos before their meeting showed Trump smiling broadly, while the pope appeared stern. However, the pontiff emerged from their talk with a more upbeat look. The pope gave Trump a signed-and-bound copy of his remarks from World Peace Day and a set of English-language translations of his papal writings, including his 2015 encyclical on climate change.
“I’ll be reviewing those,” stated Trump, who is skeptical about climate change. “We can utilize peace,” he further commented.
Trump later tweeted: “Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world.”
The Vatican issued a statement expressing optimism that the meeting would initiate “peaceful cooperation” with the Trump administration.
Biden to Pope Francis: ‘God bless you!’
Before assuming the presidency, Biden had already met with Pope Francis on three occasions.
In 2013, during his tenure as Vice President, Biden headed the U.S. delegation for Francis’ official inauguration as Pope. They encountered each other once more when the Pontiff traveled to the United States in 2015 and when Biden went to the Vatican in 2016 to address cancer prevention at a symposium focused on regenerative medicine.
In 2021, Biden assumed the presidency. As an observant Catholic who frequently goes to Mass and carries rosary beads belonging to his late son, Beau, Biden navigated his role.
serious concerns
Among certain U.S. Catholic bishops, tensions arose due to his backing of abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Some conservative bishops debated whether Catholic politicians supporting abortion rights should still be permitted to receive Communion.
Nine months following Biden assuming office, he had a meeting with Francis.
the Vatican
On October 30, 2021, when he was in Rome for the G-20 summit of global leaders, Biden met with the Pope. This meeting was not open to media coverage; however, Biden mentioned that they did not discuss abortion at all during their talk and that Francis encouraged him to keep receiving Communion.
Biden mentioned, “We discussed how pleased he was that I am a devoted Catholic and that I should continue to receive Communion.”
Biden mentioned that the pope blessed his rosary and they prayed together. “He even said one for me,” Biden added.
Biden made a joke about their ages as well. He mentioned that despite him being 78 and Francis being 84 at the time, they both felt much younger inside.
“God bless you!” Biden said to the pope, employing one of his well-known phrases that carried extra weight at the Vatican.
The meeting went on for almost one and a half hours, making it longer than both Francis’ sessions with Obama and Trump.
Biden had intended to meet with Francis during the weekend prior to the end of his presidential term in January. However, he
canceled the trip
So he could stay in the United States and concentrate on dealing with wildfires in Los Angeles.
Contributing: David Jackson
Follow Michael Collins on X @mcollinsNEWS.
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
During the papal encounters with the presidents: Francis’ meetings with Obama, Biden, and Trump
