Anticipations are high as President Biden and Pope Francis prepare to meet this week
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| U.S. President Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife, Jill, is seen with Pope Francis during their meeting at the Vatican on October 29, 2021. (CNS/Vatican Media) |
When Pope Francis and U.S. President Joe Biden met at the Vatican in October 2021, the president lauded the pontiff as "the most significant advocate for peace I've ever encountered." Now, nearly three years later, as they prepare to reunite on June 14, peace is likely to dominate their agenda, highlighting their divergent perspectives on achieving it in today's world.
Their initial meeting drew global attention amidst internal Church tensions over Communion for Biden due to his stance on abortion. Pope Francis, emphasizing non-politicization of the Eucharist, reportedly expressed support for Biden continuing to receive Communion, labeling him a "good Catholic" during their private dialogue.
As they convene again during Biden's presidency, this time in southern Italy during the G7 Summit, discussions are expected to center on ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
My knowledge is current up until January 2022, and I cannot provide real-time updates or information beyond that point.
Regarding your request, here is a rewritten version:
"Pope Francis has consistently called for a cease-fire in Gaza following Hamas' attacks on Israel in October 2021. Reports vary on whether he described the situation in Gaza as 'genocide'. On the other side, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has reaffirmed strong support for Israel, recently approving over $1 billion in arms sales. President Biden has rejected comparisons of Israeli military actions against Palestinians to genocide."
Shortly after the conflict started, Pope Francis reached out to President Biden to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and explore avenues for peace. Now, eight months later, as they prepare to meet again, it's unlikely that they will revisit their divergent approaches to the events of the past year. Instead, they aim to advance new initiatives for peace, potentially including a recently proposed U.S.-backed cease-fire plan.
Regarding Ukraine — where enhancing support for the embattled nation, enduring its third year under siege from Russia, stands as a key priority on the G7 agenda — there remains a significant gap between the two leaders.
Throughout the conflict, Pope Francis has made several statements that have stirred controversy, such as suggesting that NATO's actions could be seen as provocative towards Russia, and more recently implying that Ukraine should consider negotiating an end to the war. These remarks have contributed to a strained relationship between the Holy See and many Western nations, including the United States.
Amid France, the United Kingdom, and the United States endorsing Ukraine's use of their weapons to target Russia, and a recent caution from the Vatican about the potential for an "uncontrollable escalation" resulting from such actions, the divergence between the Holy See and the United States on resolving the Ukraine conflict appears stark.
Nevertheless, when the pope and the president meet on Friday, the emphasis is likely to be on areas of agreement.
Chief among these will likely be the joint initiative involving the pope's special peace envoy, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and Joe Donnelly, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, to repatriate around 20,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia since the conflict began. Last July, President Biden convened a meeting in the Oval Office with Zuppi and Donnelly to address this issue, underscoring the potential for collaboration between the world's smallest state and its foremost superpower to serve as a constructive pathway amidst other tensions.
Reflecting on U.S.-Holy See relations in July 2022, Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher offered an optimistic appraisal, describing them as "very positive."
"Speaking frankly, I believe we found that we didn't quite see eye-to-eye with the previous administration as we do with this one," stated Gallagher. "Clearly, we have challenges with this administration as well, which are well documented. However, there are also other areas where we can collaborate very effectively."
With a Biden-Trump rematch looming — despite everything that has transpired since their last face-to-face encounter — both sides are likely approaching the upcoming meeting with a similar calculus.
In 2021, the pope and the president held a private discussion for over 75 minutes inside the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, marking the longest meeting Francis had with any world leader. This time, amidst the pope's bilateral sessions with other global leaders at the G7, strict time constraints of 30 minutes have been set for their respective meetings.
Beyond geopolitics, there may be another area where the pope and the president can find common ground. At 81 years old, there has been considerable discussion about Biden's age and his ability to handle the demands of the presidency. Francis, at 87, is already a year older than Biden would be at the conclusion of a potential second term. Despite their significant differences, both men are likely eager to convey a similar message to each other and the world: Do not underestimate us yet.
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