Trump faces the Pope who wants to "break down all walls" (aka more Masonic language)
More tolerance, religious liberty, liberty of conscience, inter-religious dialogue nonsense...nothing new
The president and his followers took the elevator, as the delegation slowly broke apart into the different halls of the Apostolic Palace. Trump often raised his gaze upwards to frescoed ceilings while Gänswein accompanies him to the Tronetto, hall preceded by the Pontifical Sediaries dressed in purple and the Gentlemen in black.
Outside the private studio, the first encounter between Francis and Trump took place. The Pope left the Library to welcome the guest and shake his hand. Tension between the two of them was evident. “Welcome” the Pope said. “Thank you very much. This is such a great honor” Trump replied. Inside the studio, the two leaders stood next to each other for the rite photos. Trump smiled, Bergoglio a little less. “It is the protocol,” said Francis to his guest, almost as to apologize to the president, for whom rite pictures are certainly not new.
The Pope and Trump sat opposite each other, separated by the large dark wood desk. At 8.33 the interview started. “I speak Spanish,” Bergoglio warned at the beginning of the conversation, while beside him sat the interpreter, Monsignor Mark Miles. The face to face behind closed doors ended one minute after nine and lasted exactly a half an hour.
Among the issues mentioned during the audience - as the Vatican Press reports,
“the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, as well as the joint commitment in favour of life, and freedom of worship and conscience” Both parties wish for a “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 discussions - the Vatican note informs - enabled an exchange of views on various themes relating to international affairs and 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.”
The audience, including the exchange of gifts and the greeting of the delegation, lasted a total of 40 minutes. First Lady, Melania,the first to be introduced to the Pope, had him bless a rosary she was holding in her hands. “Do you make him potizza?” A traditional Dalmatian hazelnut sweet, well known in Trieste, which Francis is very fond of and is often gifted by Slovene guests. But Melania, taken aback, does not understand the Pontiff’ s question, asked in spanish , and replies: “Yes, pizza. Delicious. “
During the exchange of gifts, Francis presented Trump with an artistic bronze bas-relief representing an olive tree, and went on explaining its meaning: there is a fracture indicating “the division of war,” Bergoglio said, and the image represents “My desire for peace”. I give it to you so you may be an instrument of peace.” “We can use peace,” was the comment of the head of state, who presented the Pope with as series of books: “This is a gift to you, these are Martin Luther King’s books, I think you’ll like them, I hope so.”
“Many Thanks” the Pope replied and then gave Trump the message of the World Peace Day 2017, adding “I personally signed it for you”, together with the three main documents of his pontificate bound in red leather, the exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”, the encyclical “Laudato Si’” “devoted to safeguarding of creation, and the exhortation on marriage and family “Amoris laetitia”. “I will read them” assured President Trump. The slightly tense climate that marked the beginning of the visit melted, as it often happens during the final moments usually characterized by smiles and jokes.
Trump did not arrive in the Vatican on the armored limousine nicknamed “The Beast”, a military vehicle with a 13 cm-thick armor made of tempered steel, aluminum, titanium and bulletproof pottery, but with a more maneuverable armored Suv.
At the beginning of May, when the White House indicated the potential dates for the Audience, the Holy See gave two possible times: at 8.30 in the morning, as it happened, or early in the afternoon, at 3 pm. This because on Wednesday morning the Pope is engaged in the general audience with the faithful in St. Peter’s Square. The great flow of faithful coming from Conciliazione street and surrounding areas, added to the presence of more than two hundred Italian bishops present in the Paul VI hall for their general assembly, have forced the Holy See and the American administration to study a path that would not cause interference, given the impossibility of taking the traditional state visit tour on Conciliazione street with entry from the Arch of the Bells.
It was initially considered for him to arrive by helicopter (the president’s security had foreseen the arrival of at least three aircraft), but since this alleged option had been discarded, a different entrance was chosen. Located on the side of the Vatican leading to Via Gregorio VII, from the Perugino gate Trump’s delegation unraveled undisturbed within the world’s smallest state to finally reach the San Damaso courtyard where state leaders on official visit are welcomed by a baton of Swiss Guards and the Prefect of the Pontifical House.
In addition to First Lady Melania, there were also Trumps’ daughter, Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Assistant H.R. McMaster, Strategic Communications Leader, Hope Hicks, Social Media Director, Daniel Scavino, National Economic Council Director, Gary Cohn, ad interim US Ambassador to the Holy See, Louis Bono, Deputy Assistant Of National Security Chairman, Dina Powell, the Operations Director of the Oval Hall, Keith Schiller, and finally the interpreter, Alessandra Bonatti. All the women in the room were wearing the veil.
After the meeting with the Pope, the US delegation met with Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the Vatican’s “Foreign Minister”, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. While Trump and his wife visit the Pauline Chapel, the Sala Regia, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, the general audience was taking place outside, in St. Peters’ square.
Moments before leaving, Melania greeted Pope Francesco saying, “Thank you, I am going to visit the hospital.” The first lady’s visit to the will go to the Bambin Gesù hospital is scheduled at 11:15. While Trump said, “Good luck. Thank you, thank you, I will not forget what you said.”
At the same time, her first daughter Ivanka will be in Trastevere to meet Sant’Egidio volunteers committed in countering human- trafficking. The president will continue with his institutional commitments and meet with Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who will reach him at Villa Taverna, the historic seat of the United States ambassador.
