When Benny met Barry
The first word via Vatican Radio and first image (that I saw) via Rocco:
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi said “moral values in international politics, immigration and the Catholic Church’s contribution in developing countries” were key topics of discussion between the pope and the president.
In addition, Fr. Lombardi said the they discussed inter-religious dialogue and Middle East peace, with both reaffirming the need for a two state solution. He said the US president “reiterated his commitment to reducing the incidence of abortion”.
President Obama’s parting words to Pope Benedict Friday were that he looked forward to future strong relations between the United States and the Holy See, Pope Benedict told the President: “I thank you for all your work! I’ll pray for you!”
Let the conservative tsurris begin.
As for the substance, the official joint statement in English (original langauage) is here.
In the course of their cordial exchanges the conversation turned first of all to questions which are in the interests of all and which constitute a great challenge for the future of every nation and for the true progress of peoples, such as the defence and promotion of life and the right to abide by one’s conscience.
Reference was also made to immigration with particular attention to the matter of reuniting families.
The meeting focused as well upon matters of international politics, especially in light of the outcome of the G8 Summit. The conversation also dealt with the peace process in the Middle East, on which there was general agreement, and with other regional situations. Certain current issues were then considered, such as dialogue between cultures and religions, the global economic crisis and its ethical implications, food security, development aid especially for Africa and Latin America, and the problem of drug trafficking. Finally, the importance of educating young people everywhere in the value of tolerance was highlighted.
Carol Glatz and Cindy Wooden also have this account:
As they met, Obama told the pope, “It’s a great honor; thank you so much.”
The two sat down at a desk in the papal library and began discussing the G-8 summit — the meeting of the world’s wealthy industrialized countries, which concluded that morning in L’Aquila, Italy. The summit focused on the economic crisis, climate change and global tensions.
Pope Benedict told the president, “You must be tired after all these discussions.”
The president responded that the meetings marked “great progress” and “something concrete,” although the precise topic they were discussing at that point was unclear.
Pope Benedict gave Obama a mosaic showing St. Peter’s Basilica and Square, an autographed copy of Caritas in Veritate (I wonder if Obama will edit it with a red or gold pencil?) and a medal marking the fifth year of his pontificate. (That would into his second term, in Obama’ envious eyes.) The president told the pope the mosaic, which was made in the Vatican’s mosaic studio, “was very beautiful,” according to CNS, and would have “a place of honor” in the White House.
Apparently Benedict gave the president a stole that was placed on the remains of St. John Neumann.
And CNS’ Cindy Wooden reports that the pope also gave Obama the Vatican document on bioethics, released in December. A little light reading for illumination on the plane ride to Ghana.
Did the President give the Holy Father the new IPhone?
Nice photo.
Let’s start another right wing photo rumor.
Is that a burqa that Michelle Obama is wearing?
I suggest that dotCom start a contest: best one-liner of the week in question form.
I nominate Sean and Unagidon ex aequo!
Life and conscience were “first of all”–top priority–”in the interests of all and which constitute a great challenge for the future of every nation and for the true progress of peoples.”
I thought Americans were putting too much emphasis on these issues, and not issues that really matter to the rest of the world?
And B16 gave Obama Dignitas Personae? What a statement. “Of all the things you need to read because of its importance and your lack of comprehension of it, life is the thing–start with this.”
I’ll second that.
I wonder where are the shots of B16 and the kids–I think CNS or John Allen said this was the first time in 18 Pope-POTUS meetings that kids came along. What were THEY wearing?
Wow, Jason–what a scoop! Did you get that quote direct from the HF himself?!
we all have our sources :)
Apparently Benedict gave the president a stole that was placed on the remains of St. John Neumann.
One of the Vox Nova contributors called attention to this truly appalling display of Obama hatred and snobbery on the part of one Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, whom I am glad to say I never heard of before. The web page describes him as follows:
It seems the stole that the Redemptorist order donated for Obama to give to the pope was from Almy, a company that apparently doesn’t make the finest of vestments. It did not seem to count for much that it had been one of the vestments St. John Neumann’s body had been dressed in for 18 years at his shrine. The mocking and snide comments by Fr. Zuhlsdorf and his readers about Obama and the gift actually shocked me. It was clear some of them were fervently hoping Mrs. Obama would wear something inappropriate for the audience with the pope so they could mock her as well.
Is that Michelle all veiled up?!
Just to be clear, as David N. points out, it was President Obama who gave the stole to the Pope, and, according to one of the not so pro-Oboma comments noted by David, that is like giving a “toaster to a chef.” Could the president have been advised better on this?
I do enjoy that some of the commentators noted on the webpage cited by David N. were forced to concede that, well, yes, even if tacky and made (gasp) by Episcopalians, the fact that the stole touched the body of a saint would, indeed, make it a third class relic.
contest entry:
Is your wife about to put her arm around me as she did to Queen Elizabeth?
David, I don’t recommend reading that man, but the post you link to doesn’t come close to the level of snobbery he’s capable of.
I heard Obama “made it out alive” — will wonders never cease!
I didn’t exactly get the vapors when I heard about the Obamas’ gift to Elizabeth II, but in this case I thought the stole was a great gift idea — and the “toaster-to-a-chef” comparison only works if you ignore the part about how it’s a relic of an American bishop-saint. Of course, no matter what gift he brought, it would have been an outrage to someone.
The gift should have been an ND jersey.. (:
What’s sad about the stole is the gift accurately reflects the low-celing limits, the pitifully prosaic level of liturgical imagination of our times. I don’t think it reflects on the Obamas but on Catholics.
The videos of the encounter seem to show a rather stiff meeting. Is this just my read?
How did the wicked witch of the west make it into the photo?
Michael Paulson has a transcript of a press briefing from Gibbs and McDonough:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2009/07/white_house_vat.html
Nicholas Cafardi has piece at NCR today on the “cordial and respectful” meeting – which, on the whole is probably accurate.
Today’s NYT op-ed by Carter Dougherty was most interersting on the encyclical and its possible use and impact. Emphasizing the work of Archbishop Marx in influencing BXVI, he thinks the appraoch was to revcitalize the Catholic impact in secularized Europe.
Those values (Marx’s and the Pontif’s) resonate with a lot of Obama approaches ,and thePOTUS is still imensely popular across the continent.
It streuck me that the themes brough tou tin the press conference by Vatican reps underscored those points.
It’s not, by trhe way, what you’ll get in Fox news reports.
a propos of Father John Zuhlsdorf and his commentators: it’s hard to make out whether they are primarily miffed by a) the effrontery of Obama in presuming to visit the pope; or b) the effrontery of the pope in presuming to receive the Obamas. Perhaps Benedict should pay more attention to conservative “Catholic” blogs, and thus learn where the True Church is really to be found. In that little world, despite increasing drift to a narrow consumerist secularism, global violence, growing poverty, and the dangers of nuclear proliferation, it seems to make a real difference whether a particular item is a “second class” or “third class” relic. First Things First!
Well put, Nicholas!
An interesting footnote I saw today from comments from the Obama press secretary, was that the President delivered a note from Senator Kennedy to the Pope asking BXVI to pray for him -an effort we might join.
To the list of commentary, I would addJerry Filteau’s piece at NCR on line today, giving a range of views of the meeting by major Catholics.
Two things struck me:
-Drew Christiansen is reported to have told folks that Delegate Archbishop Sambi had upbraided the USCCB at their meeting for appearing to be oo parisan in their approach to the president (thus setting the stage for the cordial but constructive POTUS/BXVI meeting.)
-Thomas Reese’s remark that the meeting modeld for folks how constructive dialogue should occur because that’s the way ADULTS BEHAVE (my italics.)