By Christian Datoc
October 29, 2021 - 9:35 AM
President Joe Biden met with Pope Francis at the Vatican Friday morning, but U.S. media traveling with the president were not granted access to the event.
The Vatican additionally canceled the live broadcast, a decision protested by the White House Correspondents' Association, and the reporters, photographers, and television crews traveling with the president on his second European trip were barred from participating. The Vatican did provide a handful of photos of the visit and a heavily edited video of Biden and first lady Jill Biden touring the facilities.
The Biden journey: An unsteady course
In one shot, Biden hands the pope a presidential challenge coin and claimed that he is the "most significant warrior for peace I've ever met" and that his late son, Beau Biden, "would want me to give this to you."
According to reporters traveling in the presidential motorcade, Biden joked and shook hands with papal officials upon arrival.
"It’s good to be back," Biden said while shaking hands with officials. "I’m Jill’s husband."
The White House's official readout of the face-to-face meeting, the second between a Catholic president and the pope, noted that "President Biden thanked His Holiness for his advocacy for the world’s poor and those suffering from hunger, conflict, and persecution" and "lauded Pope Francis’ leadership in fighting the climate crisis, as well as his advocacy to ensure the pandemic ends for everyone through vaccine sharing and an equitable global economic recovery."
"The engagement between the two was very warm when the delegation arrived in the room," one White House official added of the lengthy visit. "There was laughter and clear rapport between President Biden and Pope Francis."
The meeting itself lasted for roughly 90 minutes. Former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama both met with Pope Francis for roughly 30 minutes and 50 minutes, respectively.
Following his meeting with the pope, Biden led an extended bilateral meeting with the Holy See's Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and a number of other U.S. officials also took part in the meeting.
In one shot, Biden hands the pope a presidential challenge coin and claimed that he is the "most significant warrior for peace I've ever met" and that his late son, Beau Biden, "would want me to give this to you."
According to reporters traveling in the presidential motorcade, Biden joked and shook hands with papal officials upon arrival.
"It’s good to be back," Biden said while shaking hands with officials. "I’m Jill’s husband."
The White House's official readout of the face-to-face meeting, the second between a Catholic president and the pope, noted that "President Biden thanked His Holiness for his advocacy for the world’s poor and those suffering from hunger, conflict, and persecution" and "lauded Pope Francis’ leadership in fighting the climate crisis, as well as his advocacy to ensure the pandemic ends for everyone through vaccine sharing and an equitable global economic recovery."
"The engagement between the two was very warm when the delegation arrived in the room," one White House official added of the lengthy visit. "There was laughter and clear rapport between President Biden and Pope Francis."
The meeting itself lasted for roughly 90 minutes. Former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama both met with Pope Francis for roughly 30 minutes and 50 minutes, respectively.
Following his meeting with the pope, Biden led an extended bilateral meeting with the Holy See's Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and a number of other U.S. officials also took part in the meeting.
No comments:
Post a Comment