Trump After Meeting with the Pope: I Am Working to Promote Peace Worldwide

Donald Trump on Wednesday, after his meeting with the Pope, the leader of the world's Catholics, which he described as a spiritual encounter, promised to use his position to promote peace across the globe. According to AFP, the two leaders tried to set aside deep differences on various issues ranging from immigration and defending the poor to environmental concerns during their first meeting. However, if there were any disagreements between them, they occurred behind closed doors, as both appeared to smile and seemed very satisfied and even happy in front of the cameras. After the meeting with Pope Francis and before leaving the Vatican for Brussels to begin the second part of his foreign trip, Donald Trump tweeted: 'Meeting with Pope Francis was a great honor. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to promote peace throughout the world.' According to AFP, Pope Francis, the leader of the world's Catholics, has made issues such as defending the rights of the poor and attention to the environment central to the Vatican's activities. The Vatican described the meeting as 'friendly and respectful' and stated that both are opposed to abortion and concerned about the persecution and harassment of Christians in the Middle East. The statement emphasized the shared position of the two leaders in defending life and the freedom of religion and belief. As he left the Vatican, Donald Trump thanked his host, saying, 'Thank you, thank you. I will not forget what you said.' Pope Francis gifted Donald Trump a medal inscribed with an olive branch, an international symbol of peace. In return, Trump's gifts to Pope Francis included the first edition of a collection of Martin Luther King’s works and a bronze statue. Pope Francis also gifted Trump a copy of his works during his tenure, including a piece on the environment urging the industrial world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid a catastrophic future for the planet. Donald Trump, who has suggested he might cancel the Paris climate agreement and has described the theory of global warming as a hoax, promised to read the Pope's writings. Mr. Trump also met with the President and Prime Minister of Italy during his visit to the Vatican. Reports indicate that the U.S. President and his entourage will meet with senior officials from the European Union and NATO in Brussels and then return to Italy to participate in the G7 summit taking place on Friday and Saturday in Sicily.