When the President met the Pope
President Trump and his family spent a memorable, and photo-worthy, Wednesday morning at the Vatican with Pope Francis. Although the two leaders have voiced clashing opinions on such topics as climate change, their first meeting appeared cordial, if a little awkward at times. Click or tap on a photo to learn more.
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Pope Francis stands with Trump and some of his family members during a private audience at the Vatican. To Trump’s right is his wife, Melania; his daughter and adviser Ivanka; and his son-in-law, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner.
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The President and the Pope pose for a photo at the Vatican. Trump is on the sixth day of a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe.
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With Vatican protocol in mind, Melania Trump wore a black veil and long-sleeved black dress draped down to her calf.
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Trump presented the Pope with a first-edition set of Martin Luther King’s writings. The Pope gave Trump an olive-tree medal that the Pope said symbolizes peace.
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Pope Francis shakes the first lady’s hand. He drew on her Slovenian heritage to make a personal connection. “What do you give him to eat, potizza?” the Pope asked, referring to a Slovenian treat. “Potizza,” she said with a smile.
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After introducing several members of his administration and staff, the President left for a private tour of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
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Neither Trump nor the Pope revealed what their private conversation entailed, but readouts from the White House and the Vatican highlighted terrorism, climate change and peace as agenda items covered.
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In a statement, the Vatican said that the two men discussed “the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue.”
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Ivanka and Melania Trump watch the Pope.
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“He is something,” Trump said of the Pope later in the day. “We had a fantastic meeting. We’re liking Italy very, very much and it was an honor to be with the Pope.”