George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | 6/13/08 | Malcom Moore

[camerakid400]

George W Bush and Pope Benedict XVI have held an intimate meeting in Rome as rumours mounted in Italy that the president may follow in Tony Blair's footsteps and convert to Catholicism.

The two men spoke for half an hour in the 12th century Tower of St John, a private area in the Vatican gardens which is used by the pope for private reflection.

The usual protocol for heads-of-state is a meeting in the pope's library in the Apostolic Palace, but a spokesman for the Vatican said Benedict wanted to reward Mr Bush for the "warmth" of his reception at the White House earlier this year.

[ConservativeMind]

This is not likely.

[pissant]

We’d welcome him to the RCC

[IrishMike]

Ala.... Tony Blair ?

[B Knotts]

This is not likely.

How do you know?

[Fox_Mulder77]

Catholics have noted that during the contested election in 2000, Jeb Bush travelled to Mexico and prayed to the icon of Our Lady of Guadelupe. His victory was announced by the Supreme Court on December 12, the feast day of the Lady of Guadelupe.

Well, there you have it.

[A_Former_Democrat]

If so, this must be of recent consideration by the President as I was told a few months ago they were returning to their Methodist church in Dallas.

[Fox_Mulder77]

I think this proves he isn't likely to convert:

However, Mr Bush did not, as expected, kneel in prayer before the Grotto of the Madonna of Lourdes

Maybe after he leaves office....... maybe. But I doubt it as well.

[neb52]

I wonder how SMU would take it if, whether they would still support the Presidential Library or not.

[austinrepub]

All roads lead to Rome ...

[Incorrigible]

Catholic Bump!

[what's up]

How do you know?

There's nothing at all to indicate that the President is leaning that way.

[livius]

LOL! I didn’t recall that, actually; I guess I was just so caught up in the events that I somehow missed Our Lady!

But seriously, I think this would be wonderful. It would give Bush an environment that would be supportive of his thought and positions, something that can be hard to find nowadays.

He wouldn’t be the first. Justice Clarence Thomas, for example, who was brought up as a Catholic but attended an Episcopal church prior to those awful hearings, came back to the Church afterwards and I think has found considerable intellectual and moral support in it.

[horse_doc]

His brother became a Catholic, IIRC.

Face it, anything is better than the squishy brand of Methodism that has shaped his Presidency. That's where his whacked-out views on immigration, and the whole "New Tone" thing sprang from.

The irony of SMU building his library after he converts is delicious, though.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I wonder how SMU would take it if, whether they would still support the Presidential Library or not.

Wouldn't change a thing.

[TonyInOhio]

The two men spoke for half an hour in the 12th century Tower of St John, a private area in the Vatican gardens which is used by the pope for private reflection.

The Holy Father has many cats in his gardens. I wonder if any joined the conversation? :)

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Mindless speculation.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Face it, anything is better than the squishy brand of Methodism that has shaped his Presidency.

Oh brother! LOL.

[Arkansas Toothpick]

I don’t think that SMU cares about GW becoming a Catholic; landing a presidential library is a huge prize and he could be Buddhist for all they care.

Whatever the President chooses to do, I wish him all the best on his spiritual journey. I sincerely hope that he is listening to God and makes the right decision; I am an Evangelical Christian but I respect the tradition and inherent conservativeness of the Catholic faith. They stand unashamedly for life and are a bastion against godlessness in many otherwise godless parts of the world.

[Antoninus]

Somehow I doubt this. For the Telegraph, anything having to do with the Pope or the Catholic Church is bad, bad, bad. This is just another way to bash Bush.