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US President Barack Obama has met Pope Francis for the first time to discuss how to fight global inequality and poverty, calling himself a “great admirer” of the pontiff. Obama arrived at the Vatican yestersday amid the pomp and tradition of the Catholic Church, making his way to greet the pope after a long, slow procession through the hallways of the Apostolic Palace led by colourful Swiss Guards and accompanied by ceremonial attendants.
The president bowed as he shook hands with Francis in the Small Throne Room, before the two sat down at a wooden table in the Papal Library.
“It is a great honour. I’m a great admirer,” Obama said. “Thank you so much for receiving me.”
Political observers said the meeting could be a bid to boost the US president’s support at home among Catholic voters. It comes as Obama’s administration and the Church remain deeply split on issues of abortion and contraception.
The first African-American US president spoke of the first pope from Latin America as an “inspiration” in an interview with the Corriere della Sera daily.
“The Holy Father has been an inspiration to people around the world, including me,” Obama said, adding however: “It doesn’t mean we agree on every issue.”
Obama is wrapping up a six-day European tour that has so far been dominated by the crisis over Crimea.
Obama will also meet new Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi — the European Union’s youngest government leader — and President Giorgio Napolitano, as well as going on a private guided tour of the Colosseum.
Diplomatic relations between Italy and the US are close, though Rome has been cautious about imposing sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis, amid fears it would take a toll on a key market.
Obama in his interview highlighted Italy’s “critical role” in the Mediterranean region, praising Renzi for visiting Tunisia on his first foreign trip and saying Washington and Rome were collaborating to rebuild Libya.
Meanwhile, Obama, the US president, has expressed concerned about cutbacks in European defence spending, telling Nato members in Brussels that “everyone has to be chipping in” to defend the continent’s borders, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Obama met Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, for trade talks although Russia’s annexation of Crimea was high on the agenda and dominated the remarks following the first EU-US summit in more than two years.
Obama told a news conference on Wednesday: “There is a diminished level of defence spending in Nato countries. “The situation in Ukraine reminds us that our freedom isn’t free. We’ve got to be willing to pay for the assets, personnel and training required to make sure we have a credible Nato force and an effective deterrent force.
“This cannot just be a US and UK exercise. Everyone has to be chipping in.”
Online Reporter