America
Trump meets Pope, calls it an 'honour'
Vatican City, May 24
US President Donald Trump met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday during the first face-to-face meeting of the two leaders, who symbolise starkly different views of the world.
Trump arrived for a short private audience at the Apostolic Palace along with his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The US President was greeted warmly by Francis before they sat down for the private meeting at which only a translator was present.
Trump could be heard saying it was "an honour" to be there during the meeting. At one point, the Pope jokingly asked Melania, "what she fed her husband", the Guardian reported.
The seemingly genial meeting offered no hint of the rocky start to the pair's relationship last year, when the Argentinian pontiff questioned then-candidate Trump's Christian credentials, the report said.
US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson and National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster were among Trump's delegation to the Vatican.
After Trump's private meeting with the Pope, Melania and others were invited to join the pair in the papal library.
Melania and Ivanka wore black dresses and veils, traditional Vatican attire for women, considered respectful, though not mandatory.
After arrival, Trump was greeted by Georg Gänswein, a German archbishop and prefect of the papal household. Details of the traditional gifts exchanged by Trump and Francis have not yet been revealed, the report said.
For Trump, who landed in Rome after stops in Saudi Arabia and Israel, the audience in the Vatican caps a tour of the ancestral homes of three of the world's great monotheistic religions.
Trump and the Pope have diametrically opposite views on issues as varied as immigration, climate change and arms sales.
Trump will later meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. He will then fly to Brussels for a NATO summit.
Later, Ivanka is expected to visit Sant'Egidio, a Rome charity centre devoted to migrants. Melania will visit the Bambino Gesu children's hospital.
At an earlier news conference, the Pope said he wouldn't judge Trump before their meeting or seek to convert him on political issues. Instead, he'd look for areas of agreement.
The US President vowed to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace, as he ended the Middle East leg of his tour on Tuesday.
Trump had begun his foreign trip with a two-day stop in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, urging Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalisation. He will fly to Brussels later in the day for a NATO summit, and will wrap up his tour on Friday after the G7 summit on the Italian island of Sicily.
Trump arrived for a short private audience at the Apostolic Palace along with his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The US President was greeted warmly by Francis before they sat down for the private meeting at which only a translator was present.
Trump could be heard saying it was "an honour" to be there during the meeting. At one point, the Pope jokingly asked Melania, "what she fed her husband", the Guardian reported.
The seemingly genial meeting offered no hint of the rocky start to the pair's relationship last year, when the Argentinian pontiff questioned then-candidate Trump's Christian credentials, the report said.
US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson and National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster were among Trump's delegation to the Vatican.
After Trump's private meeting with the Pope, Melania and others were invited to join the pair in the papal library.
Melania and Ivanka wore black dresses and veils, traditional Vatican attire for women, considered respectful, though not mandatory.
After arrival, Trump was greeted by Georg Gänswein, a German archbishop and prefect of the papal household. Details of the traditional gifts exchanged by Trump and Francis have not yet been revealed, the report said.
For Trump, who landed in Rome after stops in Saudi Arabia and Israel, the audience in the Vatican caps a tour of the ancestral homes of three of the world's great monotheistic religions.
Trump and the Pope have diametrically opposite views on issues as varied as immigration, climate change and arms sales.
Trump will later meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. He will then fly to Brussels for a NATO summit.
Later, Ivanka is expected to visit Sant'Egidio, a Rome charity centre devoted to migrants. Melania will visit the Bambino Gesu children's hospital.
At an earlier news conference, the Pope said he wouldn't judge Trump before their meeting or seek to convert him on political issues. Instead, he'd look for areas of agreement.
The US President vowed to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace, as he ended the Middle East leg of his tour on Tuesday.
Trump had begun his foreign trip with a two-day stop in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, urging Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalisation. He will fly to Brussels later in the day for a NATO summit, and will wrap up his tour on Friday after the G7 summit on the Italian island of Sicily.
Trump arrived for the meeting at the Apostolic Palace along with his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The meeting was keenly awaited as the two men have already clashed at a distance on issues, including migration and climate change, BBC reported.
Trump will later meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. He will then fly to Brussels for a NATO summit.
At an earlier news conference, the Pope said he wouldn't judge Trump before their meeting or seek to convert him on political issues. Instead, he'd look for areas of agreement.
"Always there are doors that are not closed. Look for the doors that are at least a little bit open, enter and talk about common things and go on. Step by step," the pontiff said.
Trump earlier said he looked forward to "the honour" of meeting the Pope and discussing "how Christian teachings can help put the world on a path to justice, freedom and peace".
The US President vowed to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace, as he ended the Middle East leg of his tour on Tuesday.
Trump had began his foreign trip with a two-day stop in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, urging Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalisation.
13 minutes ago
Palestinian resistance will go on...," says Lebanese envoy Rabie Narsh on death of Hamas' Yahya Sinwar
1 hour ago
World's 1st crewed space balloon: Richard Branson to co-pilot flight to Earth's edge
2 hours ago
Biden arrives in Germany to hold talks with French President, UK PM on Ukraine, West Asia
2 hours ago
Nijjar was foreign terrorist and not Canadian: Canada's Oppn party leader Maxime Bernier
2 hours ago
Justice has been served: Kamala Harris on killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar
3 hours ago
India US Sign Deal Worth $4 Billion for buying 31 Predator drones
3 hours ago
Will redouble effort to end Israel-Hamas war as 'chief obstacle' Yahya Sinwar 'removed': US
4 hours ago
It Took Just One Week for Pitbull to Agree to Collaborate with T-Series on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Title Track! Deets Inside!
4 hours ago
Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday Star in Karan Johar’s Upcoming Film Based on C Sankaran Nair’s Case against the British Empire
4 hours ago
Congress accuses Maha govt of Rs 10,000 cr highway scam
4 hours ago
PM Modi to visit Russia for first Summit of expanded BRICS
4 hours ago
Congress councillor in Bengal’s Purulia may have been poisoned, indicates post-mortem report
4 hours ago
Normal train services restored after derailment of Agartala-Mumbai train in Assam