U.S. first lady Laura Bush, left, presents a silver bowl to Pope Benedict XVI during an exchange of gifts in his private library in Vatican City Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Posted on 02/09/2006 1:05:32 PM PST by NYer
Rome, Feb. 09, 2006 (CNA) - First Lady Laura Bush had an audience with Pope Benedict XVI this morning, during her stop in the Italian capital on her way to the opening of the Olympic Winter Games in Turin tomorrow, reported ANSA.
Pope Benedict XVI met with Laura Bush in his private library on Thursday and wished the first lady "a peaceful time" at the upcoming Olympics in Turin, where she is heading the U.S. delegation.
During the 20-minute meeting, Mrs. Bush gave Benedict a small silver bowl; the pope in turn gave the first lady and Barbara rosaries and Rooney a Vatican medal.
On the eve of the visit, the first lady told Vatican Radio in an interview broadcast Thursday: "The American people are a religious people, of course all different religions. But we share a lot of the same values with the Catholic Church."
The First Lady is traveling with one of her twin daughters, Barbara, who spent a year at a private high school in Rome before her father was elected president. The First Lady is leading the American delegation to Friday's inauguration of Torino 2006, which includes several former Olympic champions and the U.S. ambassador to Italy, Ronald Spogli.
Before leaving Rome, Bush also met at Gemelli Hospital with members of the Italian branch of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The Dallas-based organization is the leading private institution active in the fight against breast cancer in the United States. She also attended a luncheon with Premier Silvio Berlusconi at his Rome residence.
The American delegation is expected to attend an event this evening in Turin with Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. The president will welcome dignitaries attending the inauguration at the former royal palace in Turin for a gala dinner. Prince Albert II of Monaco is expected to carry in the Olympic Flame.
For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
February 9, 2006
Press Availability by the First Lady After Her Meeting with Pope Benedict XVI
Eden Hotel
Rome, Italy
11:45 A.M. (Local)
MRS. BUSH: I just was very, very privileged to have the chance to meet His Holy Father, the new Pope, Pope Benedict. And I had a chance to visit with him, to talk to him about what I'd seen in Nigeria, for instance, when I visited St. Mary's Hospital, all the good work that different Catholic charities and Catholic orders are doing around the world. St. Mary's is a partner with PEPFAR, the President's emergency relief for AIDS. And so they are one of our many, many partners around the world, partners with the United States government in ways to reach people where people are, to be able to make sure they get treatment for AIDS, they get tested for AIDS, they have the chance to go on antiretrovirals and live a normal life.
And so I was able to tell him about that opportunity that I'd had. And then, of course, he and I talked. He talked to me about the worries of terrorism, the worries right now of the violence in Beirut and Damascus and other cities; and his hope, and certainly our hope, for peace and for tolerance, for each of us to treat everyone else with respect.
So it was a huge privilege to have the chance to meet him and to bring the very best wishes of the people of the United States and of the President, of course, to him.
Earlier this morning -- and he and I also discussed this -- we were briefed by the several programs that are here in Rome, that are based here in Rome -- Feed the Hungry, the World Food Program. Jim Morris, the Executive Director of the World Food Program, talked about America's contribution to the World Food Program. I think we give about half of the amount of money that is spent, or food that's spent by the World Food Program over the world.
We talked with Ambassador Tony Hall, who is the Ambassador here in Rome, the United States Ambassador here in Rome, that works with the U.N. Food Program, as well.
I don't know if many Americans know how very active the United States is in feeding people around the world, how important it is, that all of these food programs are, and how individuals themselves can donate to the World Food Program, for instance. It only costs about $30 to feed a child for a year. And that's very, very important. The World Food Program, besides having the contribution of governments from around the world, also has contributions from corporations, worldwide corporations, as well as American corporations and individuals, to reach people around the world.
They say there are about three to five million hungry children around the world, and there's a lot of things we know. We know that if there are school food programs, if children are fed in school, their parents will send them to school. And that's really important, for girls' education specifically, to make sure girls are educated, and while they're there, they're fed.
Also, the antiretroviral treatments for AIDS really can't work unless people have a nutrition program that combines with it. If you are malnourished, severely malnourished, it's very, very difficult to take antiretroviral drugs.
So it's important -- food programs are very important around the world, especially in the countries with high incidents of HIV/AIDS, so that people can be treated for AIDS, as well as nourished at the same time.
Q Mrs. Bush, in keeping with your call for peace around the world, do you think there's a justification for the passion and anger that Muslims feel over the cartoon depicting Mohammed?
MRS. BUSH: I know that Muslims are offended with these cartoons, and I understand their offense. On the other hand, I don't think violence is the answer. I think that everyone around the world needs to speak out and say let's stop the violence. It's really not necessary to get the point across that they were offended by those cartoons.
Q Did you and the Pope discuss that?
MRS. BUSH: We discussed it very -- just briefly, about the violence. But we talked about religion, and we talked about the separation of church and state and religion. We talked about -- I talked about how many, many people in the United States are religious. But, of course, we're diverse, a lot of different religions, and that we respect the freedom of religion or the freedom not to worship if people choose that.
Q Do you think there's something the United States can do more to help bring down that level of violence that you discussed?
MRS. BUSH: Well, I hope that the United States will continue to speak out around the world. I hope that every government, including the governments in the Middle East, will speak out and call for an end to the violence. It's really not -- there's nothing constructive about violence like that. And so I hope that each government around the world will call for an end to that violence.
Q What do you think about Iran -- their government is now doing that holocaust editorial cartoon.
MRS. BUSH: I saw that, and that's another thing that you wonder, really, what the point is, is there a point there to try to have tolerance or to try to have some sort of a dialogue that respects the rights of religions, each religion, and expects the rights of individuals.
Q Mrs. Bush, may I ask you if you had a message for His Holy Father from the President, and if His Holy Father sent any messages or words to the President through you?
MRS. BUSH: Really it was just a general message of respect and best wishes from the President. And he said the same thing back, for me to give the President my very best wishes, and also his best wishes to the people of the United States.
Q Is he coming to the U.S. at all?
MRS. BUSH: I hope he will. I hope he will, but, no, we didn't discuss that.
Q Did you exchange gifts with him?
MRS. BUSH: He gave me a beautiful rosary, and I gave him a silver bowl from the President and me.
END 11:52 A.M. (Local)
How nice.
Nice job refurbishing the papal appartments.
Black is not Mrs. Bush's color. I suppose it must be customary, or something. Between the outfit and the dark makeup, she looks Undead.
Mrs. Bush had to follow Vatican protocol, which requires for a formal visit that a woman wear a long-sleeved, full-length black dress with a black mantilla.
Barbara is a little less formally dressed, since it's not an official visit for her. She's just accompanying her mother, the First Lady.
Actually, I think she looks good in black. Sure lots better than her Hillary-ness.
Can't argue with that!
I wonder if that rosary came with instructions and if it will get any use? A girl can dream, can't she? :o)
Laura (Big Grin)
Actually, I thought Barbara looked dignified and respectful, and Laura looked very classy. Protocol demands certain outfits, which is probably easier on both the Pope and the visitor! However, I thought they both looked good and I agree with you, it looked as if the Pope was pleased to meet them.
Black, with head covering, is the protocol for ladies in their meetings with the Holy Father. The one exception is that Catholic Queens (e.g., Queen Sophia of Spain) may wear white, with white head covering (this is called the privilege de blanc).
I agree. Livius. Barbara looks serious which is commensurate with the situation. Laura ALWAYS look good! I think she is one classy person and an ideal First Lady. I also detect joy in Pope Benedict. I think he enjoyed the meeting with the FLOTUS.
F
Hiya, Mom! How is the littlest one? I missed your return to the Board. I hope things went well!
Franck
Interesting.
I knew about the black dress protocol, but did not know about the privilege de blanc.
I love learning new stuff. Thank you.
Regards,
I beg to differ. No matter hat Laura wears she always looks classy and gorgeous. I'm sure the Pope was delighted to make her acquaintance.
First lady meets with pope, discusses violence sparked by cartoons
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI expressed his hopes that the U.S. first lady's trip to the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, would be peaceful and spoke of his concern about violent protests taking place in many Islamic countries.
First lady Laura Bush and one of her 24-year-old twin daughters, Barbara Bush, met the pope at the Vatican Feb. 9 during a brief stop in Rome on the way to the Olympics.
After the meeting, she told reporters traveling with her that peace, terrorism and violence were among the topics the pope raised.
"He talked to me about the worries of terrorism, worries right now about violence in Beirut, Damascus and other cities" in the Middle East as protests continued over cartoons published in Europe that many Muslims found offensive.
"His hope and certainly our hope (is) for peace and tolerance" and for everyone to treat others with respect, she said.
Bush said she understood that Muslims could be offended by the cartoons and their caricatures of Mohammed, but "I do not think violence is the answer."
As Bush entered the papal library, Pope Benedict extended both hands in greeting and welcomed her.
Bush told the pope it was "so wonderful" to be able to meet him, then she introduced her daughter and Francis Rooney, U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.
The pope told her, "We hope you will have a peaceful time" in Italy.
Bush said, "We are looking forward to the games."
She also remarked that Rome "does not seem so crowded." The last time she was in the city was for Pope John Paul II's funeral in April, a time when an extraordinary number of people descended on the city.
Pope Benedict led the first lady, her daughter and Rooney to his desk, where the group spent about 15 minutes talking out of earshot of reporters and photographers.
The first lady, wearing a short black veil, and her daughter were dressed in black skirts and jackets.
They were led through the Apostolic Palace by U.S. Archbishop James M. Harvey, prefect of the papal household.
At the end of the audience, Bush gave the pope a small silver bowl inscribed with her husband's signature, her signature and the presidential seal.
The pope gave the Bush women rosaries and the ambassador a medal.
Pope Benedict asked Bush to pass on his greetings to her husband and she said, "He sent his best wishes to you."
After a lunch with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Bush was scheduled to visit the Italian headquarters of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at Rome's Gemelli hospital, which is part of Sacred Heart University.
In an interview with Vatican Radio broadcast Feb. 9, the first lady said, "The United States finds it repugnant to find that people would depict Mohammed in a disrespectful and ugly way."
While free speech is an important value, she told the radio, "many times free speech is offensive."
Calling for more dialogue among nations and religions, she said, "We expect people would give respect to the deeply held religious views of people around the world."
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