Posted on 05/24/2017 6:42:57 AM PDT by NYer
Pope Francis and US President Donald Trump spent 30 minutes speaking privately in the library of the Apostolic Palace May 24, and as the president left, he told the Pope, “I won’t forget what you said.”
The atmosphere at the beginning was initially formal, however, the mood lightened when Pope Francis met the first lady, Melania Trump, and asked if she fed her husband “potica”, a traditional cake in Slovenia, her homeland. There were smiles all around.
Pope Francis gave Trump a split medallion held together by an olive tree, which his interpreter told Trump is “a symbol of peace.”
Speaking in Spanish, the Pope told Trump, “I am giving you this because I hope you may be this olive tree to make peace.”
The president responded, “We can use peace.”
Pope Francis also gave the president a copy of his message for World Peace Day 2017 and told him, “I signed it personally for you.” In addition, he gave Trump copies of his documents on “The Joy of the Gospel,” on the family and “Laudato Si'” on the environment.
Knowing that Pope Francis frequently has quoted Martin Luther King Jr, Trump presented Pope Francis will a large gift box containing five of the slain civil rights leader’s books, including a signed copy of The Strength to Love.
“I think you will enjoy them,” Trump told the Pope. “I hope you do.”
After meeting the Pope, Trump went downstairs to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister. He was accompanied by Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state, and HR McMaster, his national security adviser. The meeting lasted 50 minutes.
The Vatican described the president’s meetings with both the Pope and with top Vatican diplomats as consisting of “cordial discussions,” with both sides appreciating “the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, as well as the joint commitment in favor of life, and freedom of worship and conscience.”
“It is hoped that there may be serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, engaged in service to the people in the fields of healthcare, education and assistance to immigrants,” the Vatican said.
The discussions also included “an exchange of views” on international affairs and on “the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue, with particular reference to the situation in the Middle East and the protection of Christian communities.”
Because of the Pope’s weekly general audience, Pope Francis and Trump met at 8.30am, an unusually early hour for a formal papal meeting. The early hour meant Pope Francis still could greet the thousands of pilgrims and visitors waiting for him in St Peter’s Square.
Many of those pilgrims, though, had a more difficult than normal time getting into the square. Security measures were tight with hundreds of state police and military police patrolling the area and conducting more attentive searches of pilgrims’ bags.
Reaching the St. Damasus Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, where the US flag flew for the morning, Trump was welcomed by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the papal household, and a formation of 15 Swiss Guards.
Accompanied by the archbishop up an elevator and down a frescoed hallway, the president passed more Swiss Guards in the Clementine Hall.
Although President Trump and Pope Francis are known to have serious differences on issues such as immigration, economic policy and climate change, the Pope told reporters 11 days before the meeting that he would look first for common ground with the US leader.
“There are always doors that are not closed,” the pope told reporters May 13. “We have to find doors that are at least a little open in order to go in and speak about things we have in common and go forward.”
After leaving the Vatican, President Trump was driven across Rome for meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
Meanwhile, the First Lady went to the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu children’s hospital — right next door to the Pontifical North American College, which is where US seminarians in Rome live. President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, went to the Community of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic lay movement, for a meeting on combating human trafficking.
She is wearing a head covering.
I was actually wrong about her being allowed to wear white
Le privilège du blanc is apparently only for Catholic Queens and Princesses.
This $4100 Altuzarra outfit is one of the few I don’t really like. But she still looks classy. she matched the shoes to trip.
I suggested earlier that President Trump wear ‘garlic’ and glad he did, he was smiling the whole time...
As far as the head scarves or Mantillas, there are different lengths, mine is black of course and short, my neighbor wears like a little ‘beanie’ one, and another lady wears the longer one...not all ladies wear the Mantillas as they used to...
And as far as black, it was like a mourning...meeting the ‘False Prophet’ is proper in that look...
I suggested earlier that President Trump wear ‘garlic’ and glad he did, he was smiling the whole time...
As far as the head scarves or Mantillas, there are different lengths, mine is black of course and short, my neighbor wears like a little ‘beanie’ one, and another lady wears the longer one...not all ladies wear the Mantillas as they used to...
And as far as black, it was like a mourning...meeting the ‘False Prophet’ is proper in that look...
Thank you for all the pictures.
The Swiss Guard’s first major engagement, and the one that proved the force’s dedication and abilities, occurred on May 6th, 1527. Emperor Charles V’s soldiers were in the process of sacking Rome when they attempted to invade Saint Peter’s Basilica. There the comparatively tiny Swiss Guard force held back a massive onslaught long enough for Pope Clement VII to escape through a half-mile long secret passageway inside the Passetto di Borgo, to Castel Sant’Angelo, a large fortress nearby. He held out for eight days before surrendering, and lived to talk about it. Nearly 150 of the 189 guards serving at the time gave their lives to see that the Pope survived.This incredibly brave stand, one where death was certain, defines the Swiss Guard’s devotion to protecting the Pope at all costs — an ethos that still exists to this day.
SNIP
Although many would think the Vatican is protected by a token force of spear-slinging cosplayers, this is not the case. Although the Vatican does not like to discuss it, many plain-clothed officers are nearby the Pope when he is moving about. This especially includes when he travels abroad. These Swiss Guard officers pack the best weaponry available, namely tricked-out Heckler & Koch MP7 personal defense weapon (PDW) that fires armor piercing small caliber rifle rounds. This weapon is extremely popular with elite units ranging from SEAL Team Six to presidential protection units around the globe. It is also compact enough to be packed in an underarm-sling that can be concealed underneath a sport coat.
The Pope Has A Small But Deadly Army Of Elite Warriors Protecting Him
You might be right. Melania's outfits are her voice.
Wonderful photos. They add to the thread.
So, did Francis give Trump a tour of the Vatican Wall?
Lol! Do as I say, not as I do.
Lots of pictures in an msn article too.
I think the Swiss Guards’ outfits were designed by Michelangelo.
The Vatican Wall was built for protection against Saracen attacks...Muslims.
Nehemiah 4:7-8 -- Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.
The traditional protocol held that Catholic Queens or Catholic Queen consorts could wear white - privilege du blanc. But, Francis has relaxed the traditional protocol, so while it isn't quite anything goes, it isn't as formal either. Having said that, in meetings with previous Popes, Queen Elizabeth wore black in keeping with protocol.
You know, Trump’s gift was thoughtful; it took into consideration the personal interests of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis’ gifts were all about him, his thoughts, his message. They weren’t personal or thoughtful.
Somehow I think our Pope’s gifts to Trump seem snarky or a bit preachy. I’m sad to say it. I do hope Trump can negotiate peace.
bumpus ad summum
It's simply a old fashioned uniform of the Swiss Guards, which, I believe, was designed by Michelangelo. Most of them don't wear it, just the Guard in the public places where the tourists usually are. The rest of them wear suits, and carry very series weapons.
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