Pope Benedict XVI personally thanked US President George W. Bush on Friday for his defence of "fundamental moral values".The pontiff expressed his gratitude "for the warm and exceptional welcome he had received in the United States of America and at the White House during his visit there in April, and for the president's commitment in defence of fundamental moral values".
Details of Benedict's meeting with Bush were included in a statement released by the Vatican after the meeting on Friday morning.
The pontiff greeted Bush, who was accompanied by his wife Laura and by Mary Ann Glendon, the US Ambassador to the Holy See, at the Medieval St. John's Tower located in the Vatican Gardens.
During the meeting, Bush and Benedict discussed issues of international politics, and relations between the US, Europe, and the Middle East.
Peace efforts in the Middle East as well as globalisation and the food crisis were also discussed.
The Pope and the president exchanged gifts before strolling around the Vatican Gardens where the choir of the Sistine Chapel sang hymns.
"What an honour, what an honour," was Bush's comment when he was received by Benedict in the Vatican gardens.
Reports say that the meeting is unusual because the Pope normally receives heads of state in the private study in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, rather than the Vatican gardens.
Vatican officials have said that the gesture is in response to the warm welcome the Pope received at the White House on his 81st birthday on 16 April.
Bush met the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for separate talks in Rome on Thursday.
Bush arrived in Europe on Monday to attend the annual US-European Union summit, held in Slovenia on Tuesday . He then head to Germany before arriving in the Italian capital on Wednesday.
After his three-day visit to Rome, Bush will travel to Paris, London and Belfast as part of his farewell tour of European states.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce