Here's What Trump and the Pope Talked About

But the internet is more interested in photos from the meeting
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted May 24, 2017 2:45 PM CDT
Here's What Trump and the Pope Talked About
Pope Francis meets with President Trump on the occasion of their private audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 24, 2017.   (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

While neither President Trump nor Pope Francis has said what the two talked about during their short private meeting Wednesday, White House and Vatican sources state the topics included terrorism, climate change, and peace, CNN reports. A statement from the Vatican states the pope talked about "the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue." The Vatican also states the two talked about protecting Christians in the Middle East. And Rex Tillerson says the pope encouraged Trump to remain in the Paris climate agreement. Here's what else you may have missed from the meeting, which Trump called "fantastic":

  • Politico reports Trump was "effusively gracious" with Pope Francis, seemingly having gotten over his earlier feuds with the pope.
  • The Atlantic runs down a few of those past disagreements.
  • Photos of a smiling Trump and stern-faced pope have been circulating, making it look like—as Mashable puts it—the 28-minute meeting "went about 27 minutes and 55 seconds too long" for the pope.
  • While the internet has been having its fun with the dour-faced pope photos, CNN reports there's at least one photo from the meeting in which the pope appears to match Trump's enthusiasm.
  • Following the meeting, which he called the "honor of a lifetime," Trump tweeted: "I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world."
  • The New York Times reports Steve Bannon was noticeably absent from the Vatican visit, having returned to DC early. Bannon has been a frequent critic of the pope, whom he's called an elitist and a socialist and blamed for supporting the migration of Muslim people to Europe.
  • USA Today explains why Melania and Ivanka Trump were wearing all-black everything, including black veils, when they met the pope. It turns out papal visits include a strict dress code for women.
  • Finally, as previously reported, Pope Francis caused a bit of confusion when he pointed to the president and asked Melania Trump what she was feeding him. According to the AP, the pope mentioned potica, a traditional Slovenian dish, but the first lady thought he said "pizza."
(More Pope Francis stories.)

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