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Foreign Policy

The President and First Lady Meet with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican

2 minute read

This morning, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participated in an arrival ceremony at the Vatican after arriving in Rome, Italy, last night.

President Trump met with His Holiness Pope Francis and later with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. In their meetings, the President focused on how the United States, the Holy See, and the international community can work together to combat terrorism.

The Pope and the President discussed how religious communities can combat human suffering in crisis regions, such as Syria, Libya, and ISIS-controlled territory. President Trump affirmed that the United States and the Holy See share many fundamental values and seek to engage globally to promote human rights, combat human suffering, and protect religious freedom.

The President also renewed the commitment of the United States to fighting global famine. As he relayed at the Vatican, the United States is proud to announce more than $300 million in anti-famine spending, focused on the crises in Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria.

A first-edition set of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s writings were presented to His Holiness on President Trump’s first visit to the Holy See.

Later in the morning, the President and the First Lady toured the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Italy was the third stop on President Trump’s first international trip. The next stop on the President’s trip is Brussels, Belgium to participate in the NATO Summit before returning to Taormina, Italy on Friday for the G7 Summit.