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Vatican City, 9th June 2007 (CNA) - This
morning President George W. Bush was received in an audience by Pope
Benedict XVI for the first time. The discussions between the two world
leaders revolved around the situation in the Middle East, Africa (especially
Darfur), and a host of societal issues of concern to Christians.
When the topic of the situation in the Middle East was raised, particular
attention was given by the Holy See to the Israeli-Palestinian question, to
Lebanon, to the worrying situation in Iraq, and to the critical conditions
being experienced by the Christian communities in those places.
The Vatican expressed hope that a "regional" and "negotiated" solution to
the conflicts and crises afflicting the region could be found.
At a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi during the
president's swing through Europe, Bush said that, "He [Benedict] was
concerned that the society that was evolving would not tolerate the
Christian religion” and that "the Christians inside Iraq [are] being
mistreated by the Muslim majority."
Bush said he assured the pope — whom he described as "very smart, loving
man" — that the United States was working hard to ensure that the Iraqi
people live up to their constitution in treating Christians fairly.
Bush also mentioned that the topic of their common commitment to Africa. "We
talked about our attempts to help the people in Africa deal with HIV/AIDS
and malaria and hunger," Bush said. "I reminded him that we've made a
significant commitment to that end."
The president promised the Benedict that he'd work to get Congress to double
the current U.S. commitment for combating AIDS in Africa to $30 billion over
the next five years.
At one point in the meeting, Pope Benedict caught the president off guard
when he asked him about his meeting in Germany with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, who has expressed opposition to a U.S. missile shield in
Europe and raised eyebrows with suppression of democracy.
"The dialogue with Putin was also good?" the pope asked.
Bush, eyeing photographers and reporters who were about to be escorted from
the room, replied: "Umm. I'll tell you in a minute."
The meeting between the pontiff and the president also included an exchange
of gifts. The Holy Father presented Bush with a drawing of St. Peter's
Basilica, and an official Vatican gold medal.
The president gave the pope a rare first edition of an autobiography of John
Carroll, the first archbishop in the United States. Bush also gave the pope
lithographs of documents from the National Archives and a Moses walking
sticking, made by a former homeless man in Dallas, Texas, who engraved it
with the Ten Commandments.
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