United States President Donald Trump
met Pope Francis inside the Vatican on Wednesday.
The encounter, which took place in the library of the papal
apartment, lasted about half an hour.
"It is a great honour to be here," Trump said as he was
received by Pope Francis.
After the talks, the president's delegation was let in and
there was the exchange of gifts.
"I will never forget what you said to me" Trump said as he
shook hands with Pope Francis and said goodbye.
The Vatican on Wednesday released a statement about the
talks Trump had with Francis and, afterwards, with Vatican
Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
It said the discussions "enabled an exchange of views on
various themes relating to international affairs and the
promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation
and interreligious dialogue, with particular reference to the
situation in the Middle East and the protection of Christian
communities".
In the gift exchange, the pope gave Trump a medal with an
olive branch as a symbol of peace, as well as copies of his
three main teaching documents.
"We can use peace," Trump said.
The books included one on "care of our common home: the
environment".
The president gave the pope a first-edition set of writings
by Martin Luther King Jr. and a bronze sculpture titled "Rising
Above" that the White House said "represents hope for a peaceful
tomorrow."
Trump's delegation included his wife Melania and his oldest
daughter Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner, as well as former
bodyguard Keith Schiller and social media director Dan Scavino.
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