Pope Francis meets Mike Pence at Vatican as President Donald Trump attends March for Life
The meeting highlighted the Trump administration’s alliance with the Catholic Church in matters of life and religious freedom.
Fri Jan 24, 2020 – 8:49 am EST
COURTESY: VATICAN PRESS POOL
By Diane Montagna, FOLLOW DIANE
ROME, January 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis welcomed U.S. vice president Mike Pence to the Vatican on Friday, in a meeting that highlighted the Trump administration’s alliance with the Catholic Church in matters of life and religious freedom.
Pence’s visit to the Vatican coincides with U.S. president Donald Trump’s presence at the January 24 March or Life in Washington, D.C., the first time a U.S. president has attended the event.
“I wanted to extend the warmest greetings on behalf of President Donald Trump who so enjoyed his visit here,” the vice president told Pope Francis through an interpreter during the visit.
In May 2017, just six months after his election, President Trump visited the Vatican with First Lady Melania Trump, other members of the Trump family, and members of his new administration. Trump’s 2017 audience with Pope Francis focused on their joint commitment to life and freedom of religion and conscience.
The Holy See Press Office did not release a statement on today’s meeting between Pope Francis and Mike Pence, as its policy is to reserve such statements for visits by heads of state. However, videos from today’s visit, which took place in the papal library of the Apostolic Palace, show a cordial meeting between the two.
The vice president was accompanied during the visit by Second Lady Karen Pence, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich, former U.S. speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and members of his office staff.
The vice president’s visit to the Vatican also comes just days after President Trump declared January 22, the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision imposing abortion on demand across the country, to be “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.”
Pence stopped in Rome on his way back to the United States from Jerusalem, where he attended the Fifth World Holocaust Forum, which marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
His visit to the Vatican comes one week after the U.S. religious freedom ambassador, Sam Brownback, traveled to Rome for the launch of the January 14–15 “Abrahamic Faiths Initiative,” hosted at the residence of Callista Gingrich. The symposium brought together Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders in Rome “to increase support for religious freedom around the world,” Gingrich said at the launch.
The symposium was inspired by the 2018 document on “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together,” a joint statement signed in Abu Dhabi last February by Pope Francis and the grand imam of Al-Azhar.
The document provoked controversy for stating that “[t]he pluralism and the diversity of religions, color, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings.”
Allies to Catholics on life and religious freedom
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have been strong allies to Catholics on issues of life and religious freedom.
At the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in 2017, shortly after the election, Vice President Pence assured attendees that the Trump administration will defend the unborn and religious freedom.
Trump “stands without apology for the sanctity of human life,” said Pence. “President Trump stands with the most vulnerable: the aged, the infirm, and the unborn.”
Pence, a baptized Catholic who now identifies as evangelical, spoke fondly of his Catholic childhood and told diplomats, members of Congress, and Catholic priests and prelates at the annual gathering that being among them felt like “coming home.”
Highlighting President Trump’s commitment to religious freedom at home and abroad, Pence assured them that “protecting and promoting religious freedom is a foreign policy priority for this administration.”
In September 2019, President Trump became the first U.S. president to host a United Nations meeting on religious freedom, telling the international body that America “stands with believers in every country who ask only for the freedom to live according to the faith that is within their own hearts.”
Joined at the U.N. meeting by Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo, and various government officials and religious leaders, the president used his remarks to detail his administration’s efforts to promote religious liberty abroad and raise awareness of persecution.
Citing deadly recent attacks on Catholics, Jews, and Muslims, President Trump said: “These evil attacks are a wound on all humanity.”
Trump has also taken a strong stance against abortion from the time he was a candidate.
Confronting Hillary Clinton about the reality of partial-birth abortion during a 2016 debate, Trump said, “[R]ipping the baby from the womb in the ninth month … is not okay.”
As president, Trump has reinstated and expanded the ban on foreign aid to abortion-involved groups (including International Planned Parenthood Federation), banned groups that commit or refer abortions from Title X family planning funds, overturned Obama-era regulations that barred states from defunding Planned Parenthood, and issued rules protecting Americans from being forced to subsidize abortion in government-mandated health insurance plans.
The president has also forcefully denounced abortion, calling attention to Democrats’ opposition to anti-infanticide legislation and calling on Congress to send him a ban on late-term abortion to sign. Most of his judicial nominees have pleased pro-lifers.
In addition, the administration has consistently worked to defend life and oppose abortion at the United Nations, from resisting pro-abortion agenda items and resolution language to affirming that abortion isn’t a human right and promoting abstinence education.
Watch LifeSite’s full coverage of the 2020 March for Life.
Read the source: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-francis-meets-mike-pence-at-vatican-as-trump-attends-march-for-life
Pope encourages U.S. Vice President Mike Pence at Vatican: Your role is not easy
Jan 24,2020
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Your Holiness.
Nice to meet you.
What a great honor. What a great honor. Thank you.
Mike Pence’s ear-to-ear smile revealed his excitement to be there. The two then sat down for a private conversation, lasting one hour.
I don’t speak good English. I need a translator.
Thank you your holiness.
Mike Pence began by remembering President Trump’s time at the Vatican in May 2017. Then, the two likely discussed the situation between the U.S. and Iran.
Vice President Pence introduced his wife and daughter-in-law.
That’s my wife, Karen Pence.
Your Holiness, it’s an honor to meet you. Thank you for your hospitality.
This is our daughter-in-law, Sarah Pence.
Pleasure to meet you, your Holiness.
The U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich and her husband, Newt Gingrich were the next to greet the Holy Father, ahead of Pence’s delegation.
Then it was time for the gifts. Mike Pence gave the pope a cross made from a tree in the garden at the Vice President’s residence.
Every Vice President, since Walter Mondale has lived in the home.
This is a large medallion made here in the Vatican. This is the angel of peace.
The pope went on to explain that the angel on the medallion already conquered the demon of war. Then, as to reaffirm the message, he gave the vice president the message of peace that he signed the same morning.
The pope joked about giving him each of his pontifical texts and his document on human fraternity.
This is a pocket-sized library.
Upon leaving the two shared an intimate moment.
You will pray for me, don’t forget.
I won’t forget and I already do.
This role is not easy.
Mike Pence told the pope by meeting him, he has become a hero, a comment likely referring to his devout Catholic mother.
Thank you and God bless you.
Melissa Butz
Copyright: Vatican Media
Pope Francis Receives US Vice President Mike Pence
After Visits to Vatican of Trump & Pompeo, Pence Makes Stop in Rome Returning From Jerusalem
Vice President of the United States of America, Michael Richard Pence, visited Pope Francis today, Jan. 24, 2020, in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace at noon.
Their meeting lasted an hour. The Vice President was accompanied by his wife, Karen, and his daughter in law, Sarah.
The last time a US Vice President had a private audience with the Pope in the Vatican was when Pope Benedict XVI received Joe Biden in 2011.
The Vatican is not expected to release a statement.
According to press pool reports, the VP was smiling ecstatically and Pope was in good spirits and cordial and warm.
When Pence first sat down in the papal library, he said: I wanted to extend the warmest greeting on behalf of President Donald Trump who so enjoyed his visit here.”
There was an exchange of gifts. The Pope gave Pence his five papal documents, and his Message for Peace, as well as a medallion.
Pence, on the other hand, gave Francis a cross made of wood from a tree in the residence of the vice president.
Ambassador Callista Gingrich and former House Speaker, Newt Gingrich, were present.
Before leaving, Vice-President Pence told the Pope: “You made me a hero.”
According to Vatican pool reporters, Pence was alluding to the fact that his mother is very Catholic.
Pence also told Pope Francis: “God bless you.”
Recently, Pope Francis met with US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on Oct. 3, 2019.
“They reaffirmed the United States’ and Holy See’s commitment,” said State Department spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus, “to advancing religious freedom around the world, and in particular, protecting Christian communities in the Middle East.”
The Vatican also did not release a statement after that occasion since it only does so, for Heads of State.
On May 24, 2017, President Donald Trump of the United States of America, met with Pope Francis at about 8:30 a.m. in the Apostolic Palace, before Francis’ weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. The meeting was broadcast by Vatican Television and could be watched via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVCm1-toVFg
According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the discussions, which lasted about 30 minutes, were cordial. “Satisfaction was expressed, for the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America as well as for their joint commitment in favor of life, and freedom of worship and conscience.”
“It is hoped,” it added, “that there may be 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, it also noted, “enabled an exchange of views on various themes relating to international affairs and the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and inter-religious dialogue, with particular reference to the situation in the Middle East and the protection of Christian communities.”
After the audience, President Trump’s wife, Melania, went to the Vatican’s children’s hospital Bambino Gesu, and his daughter, Ivanka, went to the Rome-based charitable community, Sant’Egidio.
The Vice President is visiting Rome as he returns from Jerusalem for Holocaust Remembrance events.
In the past, Pence has spoken to the Vatican on issues of common interest.
On Aug. 10, 2018, according to the White House, Pence spoke with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, to discuss their mutual concern about the on-going political crisis in Nicaragua.
“Vice President Pence,” it said, “recognized the Catholic Church’s leadership and the Pope’s calls for mediation and the process of national dialogue made earlier this year. Particularly, the Vice President recognized the personal sacrifice of the church’s clergy in Nicaragua, for striving to protect human rights, defend religious freedom, and promote good-faith negotiations.”
“The two leaders,” it continued, “condemned the violence which has claimed hundreds of lives and increasingly targeted the Church, and reaffirmed their support for the Nicaraguan Episcopal Conference and the entire faith community who has stood firm in support of human rights, democracy, and freedom.”
Read the source: https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-receives-us-vice-president-mike-pence/
***
Trump at 2020 March for Life: ‘Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in White House’
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Donald Trump made history Friday by becoming the first sitting president to address the March for Life in person, telling hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers he was “proud to stand with you” to “protect the right of every child, born and unborn, to fulfill their God-given potential.”
“Young people are the heart of the march for life and it’s your generation that’s making America the pro-family, pro-life nation,” the president said, thanking students for making the trip and pro-life activists for “embrac[ing] mothers with care and compassion. You’re powered by prayer and motivated by pure, unselfish love.”
READ: Full transcript of President Trump’s historic 2020 March for Life speech
“All of us here today understand an eternal truth: every child is a precious and sacred gift from God,” Trump said. “Together we must cherish and defend the sanctity and dignity of human life. When we hold a newborn in our arms, we know the boundless love a child brings to a family.”
Trump discussed the actions he has taken through his first term, and declared that “unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House.” He said the pro-life movement was acutely affected by the Left’s war on religious liberty, but pledged his administration would continue to defend religious speech and faith-based organizations. “The far left is working to erase our God-given rights,” he said. “They’re coming after me because I’m fighting for you.”
“Together we are the voice for the voiceless,” he went on. “Democrats have embraced the most radical and extreme positions we’ve seen in decades” on the issue, citing Congressional Democrats’ support for late-term abortion and opposition to mandating medical care for newborns that survive abortions.
“To all the women here today, your devotion uplifts our entire nation and we thank you for that,” the president said. “To all of the moms here today, we celebrate you and we declare that mothers are heroes. Every person is worth protecting and we know that every human soul is divine and every human life born and unborn is made in the holy image of almighty God.”
Pro-lifers “just make it your life’s mission to help spread God’s grace,” he added, with their efforts to provide aid to pregnant women and help children put up for adoption “find their forever home.”
“We cannot know what our citizens yet unborn will achieve,” the president told the crowd. “But we know this: every life brings love into this world, every child brings joy to a family. Every person is worth protecting.”
Watch some reactions on the ground at the March for Life to President Trump’s historic speech:
While presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush expressed their support for the March for Life with phone messages, Trump became the first president to deliver live remarks (albeit remotely, from the White House) to the event in 2018.
Trump’s appearance is the latest demonstration of his support for the pro-life cause, and a reminder of how far the former celebrity businessman has come since his conversion from conventional New York liberal to Republican political candidate.
Trump is considered by many veteran pro-life activists to be the most pro-life president in history.
As president, Trump has reinstated and expanded the ban on foreign aid to abortion-involved groups (including International Planned Parenthood Federation), banned groups that commit or refer abortions from Title X family planning funds, overturned Obama-era regulations that barred states from defunding Planned Parenthood, and issued rules protecting Americans from being forced to subsidize abortion in government-mandated health insurance plans.
The president has also forcefully denounced abortion, calling attention to Democrats’ opposition to anti-infanticide legislation and calling on Congress to send him a ban on late-term abortion to sign. Most of his judicial nominees have pleased pro-lifers, as well.
In addition, the administration has consistently worked to defend life and oppose abortion at the United Nations, from resisting pro-abortion agenda items and resolution language to affirming that abortion isn’t a human right and promoting abstinence education.
This year, Trump declared January 22, the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision imposing abortion on demand across the country, to be “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.”
In a proclamation issued this week, Trump declared that “every person — the born and unborn, the poor, the downcast, the disabled, the infirm, and the elderly — has inherent value” and said that the U.S. “proudly and strongly reaffirms our commitment to protect the precious gift of life at every stage, from conception to natural death.”
While President Trump addressed the March, his Vice President Mike Pence is meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, highlighting the administration’s alliance with the Catholic Church in matters of life and religious freedom.
Read the source: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/trump-march-for-life-2020
Pres. Donald Trump Speech at March for Life Jan 24,2020
President Donald Trump Speech at March for Life Jan 24,2020 in Washington DC
Posted by Romeo Hontiveros on Sunday, January 26, 2020
March for Life Part 1 Jan 24,2020 in Washington DC
Posted by Romeo Hontiveros on Sunday, January 26, 2020
March for Life Jan 24,2020 Part 2 in Washington DC and then I follow the Buffalo Diocese delegation. Still more behind us.
Posted by Romeo Hontiveros on Sunday, January 26, 2020