Posted on 06/10/2007 9:37:26 AM PDT by Kaslin
Yesterday President Bush met in Rome with his counter part Giorgio NapolitanoHe also had an Audience with Pope BenedictXVI
After the Audience with the Pope, he met with and had a Press conference with Italian Prime Minister Prodi
Transcript of the Press conference
President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with Prime Minister Prodi of Italy
President Bush Participates in Roundtable on Humanitarian and Volunteer Efforts
Transcript of text
THE PRESIDENT: I want to thank the good folks of Sant'Egidio for joining us. Sant'Egidio is one of the great faith-based organizations in the world. And we're here to talk about our common commitment to help the poor, feed the hungry, and help eradicate disease. The United States is firmly committed to helping the people on the continent of Africa. And we've committed in our -- and we'll work with our Congress to spend $30 billion to deal with HIV/AIDS, over a billion to deal with malaria, billions to deal with hunger, money to deal with education.
But these programs cannot be effective without loving people on the ground, helping a neighbor in need. I want to thank you for being a part of these international army of compassion. I thank you for hearing the call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. I'm looking forward to hearing your strategies in dealing with some of the more difficult problems in the world. I'm proud of your organization, and I thank all members of your organization for being such loving souls.
Thank you for having us here.
MR. IMPAGLIAZZO: Thank you, Mr. President. Before our strategy, some little word about our community, with your permission.
MR. PRESIDENT: Please.
MR. IMPAGLIAZZO: The community of Sant'Egidio was born in Rome, in this city, in 1968. At that time the West was wondering about its future and the young people were looking for something. Andrea Riccardi, who is the founder of our community, was a student at the time in a high school of Rome. He called some of his fellow students to listen and to live according to the gospel, gospel of Jesus.
In those years, people believed that the revolution would change the world. Andrea understood that there would have been no lasting chance unless the people's hearts were touched by the word of Jesus. This word put into practice, man, first of all, to be friends with the poor.
Today, there are communities of Sant'Egidio in 70 countries, with 60,000 members all over the world. Its spirituality is founded on several pillars -- just three pillars, Mr. President. First, prayer, which takes place every day in all our communities -- a personal prayer, reading the Scripture every day, but also common prayer. It means that every day, 60,000 people open the Scriptures. They read it and pray to the Lord from the beautiful churches of Rome -- like the Basilica of Santa Maria, Trastevere, that you would have visited -- to the hearts of Africa, or so many places in the immense lands of Latin America. Mr. President, prayer is our friend.
The second pillar is mission, reaching out to all those who seek and ask for a sense of their rights.
Finally, the third pillar, solidarity with the poor. There's a voluntary service carried out for free because no one is paid for his service to the poor in our community, no one.
Gratuitousness, Mr. President, is what our society is missing today. Everything is there to buy or to sell. But Jesus said, you received without payment, give without payment, Jesus said. This word of Jesus is the serve of our member's work. In our study, one thing has always proved, too, there is no loss for the poor without pay.
Christians must live with the freeness of the heart. One never has the solution to everything, but we must not close our hearts when we do not have a solution. We are all the window of the world. That is why we cannot forget demands of the poor peoples of the world.
So what is striking in our thought is that these signs, signs of resurrection, to praise in those very places where it seems there is no hope left, like Africa. With your permission, Mr. President, I would like to pass now the floor to my friends who work every day in Africa.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.
Thank you all.
Quote of the Day
These programs cannot be effective without loving people on the ground, helping a neighbor in need. I want to thank you for being a part of these international army of compassion. I thank you for hearing the call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. I'm looking forward to hearing your strategies in dealing with some of the more difficult problems in the world. I'm proud of your organization, and I thank all members of your organization for being such loving souls.
Pictures Of The Day
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush pose for a photo Saturday, June 9, 2007, with children of employees and staff of the American Embassy in Rome. White House photo by Eric Draper
Pope Benedict XVI smiles as he holds a walking stick presented to him by President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush Saturday, June 9, 2007, during their visit to the Holy See. The walking stick, created by a former homeless Texas man, is adorned with the Ten Commandments in multiple colors. White House photo by Eric Draper
BUSH ROCK!!
BUSH ROCKS!!!
BUSH ROCKS!!!
Those are two wonderful pictures of President Bush, thank you. Hope there are more.
I know it is not my turn to post the Dose, but after checking this morning I noticed the dose had not been posted. I hope Wolfstar will forgive me for jumping in
US President George W. Bush (L) and First Lady Laura Bush wave as they walk off Air Force One upon landing in Rome, 08 June 2007. Bush had his first private audience at the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI
U.S. President George W. Bush (L) waves as he disembarks Air Force One with his wife Laura upon arrival at Rome's Fiumicino International airport June 8, 2007.
Just Wow!!
Pray for W and Our Troops
That’s a cool gift!
You’re early . . . AWESOME!
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I’m off to a car show with hubby (who’s feeling a lot better) . . . will return later to post my MUST READS!
President George W. Bush is greeted by President Giorgio Napolitano of Italy as the President and Mrs. Laura Bush visited Quirinale Palace in Rome Saturday, June 9, 2007. White House photo by Eric Draper
U.S. President George W. Bush is greeted by Italian President Georgio Napolitano (2nd R) upon his arrival for a meeting at Quirinale Palace in Rome June 9, 2007. At left is Italian first lady Clio Maria and at right, U.S. first lady Laura Bush
U.S. President George W. Bush (L) speaks with Italian President Georgio Napolitano during their meeting in Rome June 9, 2007.
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush are silhouetted as they descend a circular stairwell with Gen. Rolando Mosca Moschini, military advisor to President Giorgio Napolitano of Italy, during a visit to Quirinale Palace Saturday, June 9, 2007, in Rome. White House photo by Eric Draper
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush arrive at The Vatican Saturday, June 9, 2007, where they met with Pope Benedict XVI, during their daylong visit in Rome. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
U.S. President George W. Bush meets with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican June 9, 2007.
As President George W. Bush looks on, Mrs. Laura Bush shakes the hand of Pope Benedict XVI Saturday, June 9, 2007, during their visit to The Vatican in Rome. White House photo by Eric Draper
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