United States President Barack Obama and Pope Francis Meet for the First Time

Full post after cut ............



United States President Barack Obama met Pope Francis for the first time last Thursday at Vatican's Apostolic Palace as part of his six-day European tour. He is the ninth American president to make an official visit to the Vatican. President Obama expressed his great admiration for the Pope. Pope Francis is an Argentine native, who was on the January cover of Rolling Stone and was also named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year last December. The president appeared at ease in Vatican's Apostolic Palace where he met with Pope in his private library, and they held a closed-door meeting that reportedly lasted 52 minutes, which is slightly longer than typical papal meetings with other world leaders.
The two great men exchanged gifts. President Obama gave Pope Francis a box of seeds, telling him, "I think these are carrots," while showing him the pouch, which was made from timber from the first Cathedral to open in the United States. Alternatively, the Pope gave President Obama two medallions, as well as a copy of Evangelii Gaudium or The Joy of the Gospel. The book was penned by the Pope and Obama clearly appeared ecstatic upon receiving a copy. "You know, I actually will probably read this when I'm in the Oval Office, when I am deeply frustrated and I am sure it will give me strength and will calm me down," Obama said, even joking that his wife and kids "have to put up" with him. "I hope," the pope responded.
"I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak with him about the responsibilities that we all share to care for the least of these, the poor, the excluded," Obama told reporters after the meeting. "And I was extremely moved by his insights about the importance of us all having a moral perspective on world problems and not simply thinking in terms of our own narrow self-interests." The president also invited the pope to his home in Washington D.C. "If you have a chance to come to the White House, we can show you our garden as well," Obama said before the Pope responded "Why not," in Spanish.