Trump to meet pope May 24 in potentially awkward encounter

[webfact]

Trump to meet pope May 24 in potentially awkward encounter

By Philip Pullella

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO A combination of file photos shows Donald Trump (L) speaking to the Veterans of Foreign Wars conference at a campaign event in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., July 26, 2016, and Pope Francis looking on during his Wednesday general audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican March 19, 2014. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/Stefano Rellandini/File Photos

 

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Pope Francis on May 24, the Vatican said on Thursday, a potentially awkward encounter given their diametrically opposing positions on immigration, refugees and climate change.

 

Trump will be coming from the Middle East and stop in Rome before going to Brussels for a NATO summit and then to Sicily for a meeting of the Group of Seven rich countries.

 

The Vatican said the meeting would take place at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) on a Wednesday in the Apostolic Palace, an unusual day and an unusually early time for a head of state to meet the pope.

 

Francis holds his weekly general audience on Wednesday mornings, and senior Vatican sources said the meeting with the president had to be squeezed in before that.

 

Just last Saturday, the pope told reporters aboard the plane returning from a trip to Egypt that he was not aware of any request from Trump for a meeting. He repeated the policy that a pope meets with any head of state who asks for a private audience.

 

Trump's first foreign trip originally was to have included only Brussels and Sicily but was later expanded to include Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican.

 

Besides being leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, the pope is a head of state. Such meetings allow for an exchange of views on world affairs and a chance for the pope to encourage ethical solutions to world problems.

 

Last year, in response to an answer about then-candidate Trump's views on immigration and his intention to build a wall on the border with Mexico, Francis said a man with those views is "not Christian".

 

Trump, who grew up in a Presbyterian family, shot back saying it was "disgraceful" for the pope to question his faith.

 

In March, Cardinal Peter Turkson, a close aide of the pope, urged Trump to listen to "dissenting voices" and reconsider his position on climate change, after Trump signed an executive order dismantling Obama-era environmental legislation.

 

Francis has made defence of the environment a key plank of his papacy, strongly backing scientific opinion that global warming is caused mostly by human activity.

 

About 21 percent of Americans, or 70 million people, are Catholic. Washington has had full diplomatic relations with the Vatican since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan saw the Vatican under Pope John Paul, a Pole, as a crucial ally against communism.

 

(Reporting By Philip Pullella)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-05

[stevenl]

Not awkward at all.

 

As usual with meeting foreign dignitaries he will retract his earlier words, and afterwards claim all is rosy and the other dignitary is his new best friend.

[Jingthing]

Just seeing that picture of a very evil man next to a very good man makes me feel awkward. 

[Andaman Al]

I wonder if Trump will do some cramming to brush up on his favourite book. You know the Bible "nobody loves the bible more than me" !

 

Will Trump expect the Pope to kiss his ring?

 

Number 4 on the "nobody does it better list from Trump.

 

 

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Just seeing that picture of a very evil man next to a very good man makes me feel awkward. 

 

Now, now. The head of the Church of Rome isn't the anti Christ..............oh, wait a minute !

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Now, now. The head of the Church of Rome isn't the anti Christ..............oh, wait a minute !

As popes go, it's hard to beat the current pope.

As presidents go, it's hard to get worse than 45.

[Baerboxer]

55 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

I wonder if Trump will do some cramming to brush up on his favourite book. You know the Bible "nobody loves the bible more than me" !

 

Will Trump expect the Pope to kiss his ring?

 

Number 4 on the "nobody does it better list from Trump.

 

 

 

How many practicing Catholics are there in the world?

 

They are free of course to listen to the spoutings of their religious leader. Regardless of what he's on about, he still heads an organization of immense wealth, secrecy and high hypocrisy. 

 

But I guess Trump thinks it'll be some brownie points, and PR.

 

I doubt Trump listens to anyone but his own ego.

[Baerboxer]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

As popes go, it's hard to beat the current pope.

As presidents go, it's hard to get worse than 45.

 

Don't know either.

 

But suspect both won't effect the changes they talk about on their respective organizations. 

 

The Catholic church and institutions were the ISIS equivalents of the 12th-19th centuries. So maybe we can learn something from them.

[Morch]

Well any Trump meeting is potentially awkward. That's part of the allure, I guess - "let's see what he'll do next". Followed by "OMG, did he just do that?!". Wonder if he'll try the handshake thing on the Pope. Kissing the ring, with his hygiene phobia...now that could be fun to watch.

[sanukjim]

7 hours ago, stevenl said:

Not awkward at all.

 

As usual with meeting foreign dignitaries he will retract his earlier words, and afterwards claim all is rosy and the other dignitary is his new best friend.

In a reverse gesture do you think that Trump will extend his ring hand for the Pope to kiss ? 

[sanukjim]

40 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

As popes go, it's hard to beat the current pope.

As presidents go, it's hard to get worse than 45.

Not a Catholic but I like this guy as he has pissed off more people then President Trump. Bet they get along great together.

[Skeptic7]

Isn't pretty much every Trump encounter awkward for those encountering him?  Think Merkel and Abe...among others. The man is  

[daveAustin]

On 5/5/2017 at 7:40 AM, Jingthing said:

Just seeing that picture of a very evil man next to a very good man makes me feel awkward. 

I wouldn't call the pope evil, but definitely deluded.

 

Quote

Last year, in response to an answer about then-candidate Trump's views on immigration and his intention to build a wall on the border with Mexico, Francis said a man with those views is "not Christian".

Says he behind his huge wall!!!!

[mrwebb8825]

You guys sure don't get it do you. President Trump is meeting with the Pope to get tips and cost breakdowns for building, maintaining and protecting an impenetrable wall. 

[JAG]

The Church of Rome can tell Trump a thing or two about walls...
When the Atheist arrived in heaven he was shown around. "We have everyone here" said the angel. "Over there are the Protestants, see those pagodas, that's the Buddhists, the Minarets, that's the Muslims. "
"What's behind the great Wall? "
"Oh that's the Catholics, we put them behind it so as not to upset them, you see they think they're the only ones here..."

[Grouse]

I thought for a second that May had been made Pope! Got to cut down on the absinthe....

[FarSeas]

Let's hope they're enticing the stupid orange man to the Vatican to crucify him. 

[dick dasterdly]

On 5/5/2017 at 1:40 PM, Jingthing said:

Just seeing that picture of a very evil man next to a very good man makes me feel awkward. 

They're 'birds of a feather' - both only concerned with their own personal and corporate interests.

 

But of course there's always the 'believing' - convinced that the pope is a good man who has risen through the vipers' nest of the vatican because he is so "good"....

[Jingthing]

Just now, dick dasterdly said:

They're 'birds of a feather' - both only concerned with their own personal and corporate interests.

 

But of course there's always the 'believing' - convinced that the pope is a good man who has risen through the vipers' nest of the vatican because he is so "good"....

I'm not a Catholic or any kind of religious but suggesting that this Pope and the trump clown have anything in common is totally ridiculous. 

[Skeptic7]

3 hours ago, dick dasterdly said:

They're 'birds of a feather' - both only concerned with their own personal and corporate interests.

 

But of course there's always the 'believing' - convinced that the pope is a good man who has risen through the vipers' nest of the vatican because he is so "good"....

 

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I'm not a Catholic or any kind of religious but suggesting that this Pope and the trump clown have anything in common is totally ridiculous. 

Sorry Jing, but DD has a point. One just does it "nicely"...but both are global con men with self interests first, while claiming otherwise. And "TheSheeple" buy into it!  

[Becker]

On 5/5/2017 at 10:31 AM, sanukjim said:

Not a Catholic but I like this guy as he has pissed off more people then President Trump. Bet they get along great together.

I'm not a religious person (raging atheist) but the present pope is IMO a step in the right direction for an organization that believes in invisible ghosts and has a track record that rightfully should have made them outlaws centuries ago.

One of the clearest proofs he is an improvement is the way the nutty right hate him. I mean, the guy is just quoting what Jesus (allegedly) said and the nutters are calling him a socialist!!!

And to think the nutters are calling themselves Christians. The hypocrisy is beyond mind blowing. I honestly believe that kind of reality disconnect indicates mental issues.

 

Despite me being an atheist and disagreeing with much of what he stands for (ghosts, family planning, women, gays, etc) I believe the Pope is an inherently good person, and as such he is the polar opposite of the petulant man-child in the WH. I don't think they will get along at all. Why should they, they have absolutely nothing in common.

[55Jay]

If those on the Left who are Catholic believe the same nutty religious things that the Nutty Catholics on the Right do, why aren't they considered Nutters? 

 

Because they are on the Left?  

 

Oh, Ok, then. 

[Becker]

37 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

If those on the Left who are Catholic believe the same nutty religious things that the Nutty Catholics on the Right do, why aren't they considered Nutters? 

 

Because they are on the Left?  

 

Oh, Ok, then. 

They aren't nutty because they're religious, they're nutty because they call themselves Christians while at the same time criticizing the Pope for pointing out that the teachings of Jesus don't exactly go hand in hand with their political beliefs.

I thought that was obvious.

[55Jay]

2 hours ago, Becker said:

They aren't nutty because they're religious, they're nutty because they call themselves Christians while at the same time criticizing the Pope for pointing out that the teachings of Jesus don't exactly go hand in hand with their political beliefs.

I thought that was obvious.

No, I get it.  It's a garden variety, smarmy, lazy point made by left wing libtards about right wing nutters.   Going through so much trouble to say religious loons are often convenient hypocrites, is like announcing water is wet.

 

Popes weigh in on earthly politics, which I find annoying and hypocritical.

 

But the one wearing the funny hat now apparently doesn't like Trump's border wall or stance on global warming (from the OP).  And then swings for the fences by saying it ain't the christian way to be?  What?  Laughable on so many levels, don't even know where to start! 

 

What else is laughable is Libs/Progressives who, IMV, are often staunch Atheists and alternate lifestyle types, now sit up like trained poodles and embrace The Pope all the sudden?  The Catholic Church?   555!   Talk about irony dripping with hypocrisy! 

 

Misery (and politics) acquaints a man with strange bedfellows. 

~ William Shakespeare

[Becker]

13 hours ago, 55Jay said:

No, I get it.  It's a garden variety, smarmy, lazy point made by left wing libtards about right wing nutters.   Going through so much trouble to say religious loons are often convenient hypocrites, is like announcing water is wet.

 

Popes weigh in on earthly politics, which I find annoying and hypocritical.

 

But the one wearing the funny hat now apparently doesn't like Trump's border wall or stance on global warming (from the OP).  And then swings for the fences by saying it ain't the christian way to be?  What?  Laughable on so many levels, don't even know where to start! 

 

What else is laughable is Libs/Progressives who, IMV, are often staunch Atheists and alternate lifestyle types, now sit up like trained poodles and embrace The Pope all the sudden?  The Catholic Church?   555!   Talk about irony dripping with hypocrisy! 

 

Misery (and politics) acquaints a man with strange bedfellows. 

~ William Shakespeare

Garden variety, lazy, smarmy, going through so much trouble? Embracing to pope??

Whatever...

[55Jay]

1 hour ago, Becker said:

Garden variety, lazy, smarmy, going through so much trouble? Embracing to pope??

Whatever...

Yeah, I agree.  Whatever. 

[ilostmypassword]

15 hours ago, 55Jay said:

No, I get it.  It's a garden variety, smarmy, lazy point made by left wing libtards about right wing nutters.   Going through so much trouble to say religious loons are often convenient hypocrites, is like announcing water is wet.

 

Popes weigh in on earthly politics, which I find annoying and hypocritical.

 

But the one wearing the funny hat now apparently doesn't like Trump's border wall or stance on global warming (from the OP).  And then swings for the fences by saying it ain't the christian way to be?  What?  Laughable on so many levels, don't even know where to start! 

 

What else is laughable is Libs/Progressives who, IMV, are often staunch Atheists and alternate lifestyle types, now sit up like trained poodles and embrace The Pope all the sudden?  The Catholic Church?   555!   Talk about irony dripping with hypocrisy! 

 

Misery (and politics) acquaints a man with strange bedfellows. 

~ William Shakespeare

It's laughable on so many levels yet you seem incapable of listing even a few. That's laughable too. But just on one level. A very low one.

[55Jay]

1 minute ago, ilostmypassword said:

It's laughable on so many levels yet you seem incapable of listing even a few. That's laughable too. But just on one level. A very low one.

You know what they are.  Come on, Password, you're trying too hard to pretend the obvious and much larger hypocrisy on display here, doesn't exist. LOL.   

 

But let's get back over to the Kushner thread.  Maybe you can explain to me what, precisely, is wrong with that.

[Briggsy]

I'm not religious and I'm not Catholic but I accept the Pope is an important world leader who has a vision.

 

Trump, although occupying the Office of President, is just a conman. His meetings with world leaders seem to be opportunities for him to look good for the cameras as opposed to discuss key issues. For Trump, forget the issues, he doesn't understand them or have any interest in them, he needs to be seen as the top dog in every encounter.

 

His techniques seem to be

1. For the foreign leader who decides to play along, Trump is all smiley and praising but always throws in some low-class dominance moves from his years as a wheeler-dealer. He has a myriad of dominance handshakes such as the grip-and-pull, the reverse flip and the hold-and-pat.

 

2. For the recalcitrant leader who challenges his (often unclear) positions, he does the ignore thing, then blindsides them with a low class jibe from the lectern.

 

So, bearing this in mind, there is nothing really to be gained by the Pope meeting Trump. I know it is customary but really what is the point.

[rott]

On 5/5/2017 at 2:48 PM, Jingthing said:

As popes go, it's hard to beat the current pope.

As presidents go, it's hard to get worse than 45.

The best pope is the worst pope. (Luther).