Politics - News Analysis
Mike Pence to Pope Francis: “You Have Made Me a Hero!’
Vice President Mike Pence told Pope Francis, “You made me a hero” back home by granting him a private audience at the Vatican on Friday.
The pontiff and the vice president had a private hour-long conservation.
Pence was beaming when the rest of his delegation was ushered into the papal library after the one-to-one talk.
The hero description apparently referred to Pence’s roots in a Catholic family. He later became an evangelical Christian.
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Before journalists were ushered out of the library, Pence told Francis: “I want to extend the warmest greeting on the part of President Donald Trump, who so enjoyed his visit here.” Pence said Trump, who also met with the pontiff, had asked him to send along his regards.
The audience came on the same day that Trump is attending an anti-abortion rally in Washington, the first sitting US president to do so in the history of the annual March for Life’s history.
Pence, his wife and daughter-in-law were greeted at Rome’s Ciampino airport by the US ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich, and her husband, former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
At the Vatican today, VP Pence met with Pope Francis. They exchanged gifts. @VP presenting a cross made from the wood of a tree near the VP's residence. The Pope gave @VP a set of documents and a small medal. "This is for mom," the VP was heard to say. (Pool photo @katierogers) pic.twitter.com/IpBXVCV94r
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 24, 2020
Pence later presented Newt Gingrich, who oversaw the impeachment proceedings against then-President Bill Clinton to the pope, saying, “Speaker Gingrich, of course.”
Francis maintained a rather serious face throughout the traditional exchange of gifts at the end of the audience. Pence presented Francis with a large, plain wooden cross, which he explained was made from wood from a tree on the grounds of the vice president’s official residence in Washington.
Francis gave Pence five bound books of his writings as pope, as well as a copy of the annual peace message.
Pope Francis today, with VP Mike Pence and the second lady. The meeting, private, lasted 59 minutes.
No statement expected at this point from the Vatican, as Pence is not a head of state.
Video: Vatican Press Pool. pic.twitter.com/FP6HjuGfTp— Ines San Martin (@inesanma) January 24, 2020
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