Obama To Meet With Pope

[Luigi]

http://news.msn.com/us/obama-to-meet-with-pope-francis-in-march?ocid=ansnews11

 

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President Barack Obama will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican as part of a European trip scheduled for March.

The White House says Obama "looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality" during their March 27 meeting. Obama also plans to meet in Rome with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

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This should be interesting. MSN reports the anticipated discussion from Obama's perspective - I'd be interested in knowing what the POPE expects to say to Obama.

 

I hope it's something like, "Now about this "Catholics' paying for abortion stuff... Take notes, son - there's gonna be a test!"

[Kateri89]

I'm hoping that the Pope will sprinkle a little holy water on our President...St. Teresa of Avila once said "From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again".  I just wish he would stop being so polarized and just consider that Catholics are part of this nation as well as any non-believer or other denomination.  He acts as though we are simply a nuisance and considers our beliefs secondary to all others.  Most politicians seem to be polarized like this (in one direction or the other) and I am frustrated with them as well.  Although instead of reading blogs or other "news" sites just waiting for Obama to anger us again, we should be praying that the outcome of this meeting will be good.  However poorly Pope Francis' words have been misconstrued by the media, people seem more open to listening to him so maybe Obama will too.

[CatherineM]

Wouldn't mind listening through the keyhole.

[Nihil Obstat]

I would not hold my breath expecting anything interesting. Seems to be how it is when world leaders meet popes. They will talk for a while behind closed doors, then smile and pose for a photo-op, and everyone writes press releases about their mutual respect and shared values. It is not very often that we hear something particularly interesting as a result.

Maybe I am a bit cynical, but what good does it do when these things are so public? No disrespect intended against Pope Francis, or previous popes. It just seems like so much fluff to me. If I had to guess, I would say that Obama and/or his PR guys will try to spin this meeting as being Pope Francis supporting his great quest for universal health care and economic 'reform'.

 

At the end of the day I recognize that it is the duty of popes and bishops to go out and meet those wayward souls and try to bring them home, even with baby steps if necessary. I get that. But it is the whole political photo-op aspect that bugs me. From the politician's end, it is a PR stunt. So I wish they were kept more private and low-key.

[Kateri89]

I would not hold my breath expecting anything interesting. Seems to be how it is when world leaders meet popes. They will talk for a while behind closed doors, then smile and pose for a photo-op, and everyone writes press releases about their mutual respect and shared values. It is not very often that we hear something particularly interesting as a result.

Maybe I am a bit cynical, but what good does it do when these things are so public? No disrespect intended against Pope Francis, or previous popes. It just seems like so much fluff to me. If I had to guess, I would say that Obama and/or his PR guys will try to spin this meeting as being Pope Francis supporting his great quest for universal health care and economic 'reform'.

 

At the end of the day I recognize that it is the duty of popes and bishops to go out and meet those wayward souls and try to bring them home, even with baby steps if necessary. I get that. But it is the whole political photo-op aspect that bugs me. From the politician's end, it is a PR stunt. So I wish they were kept more private and low-key.

 

Totally agree.