Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

When Benedict Meets Barack (Obama will help the Catholic Church find its footing in the world)
Time ^ | Sunday, Jul. 05, 2009 | Jeff Israely

Posted on 07/05/2009 12:30:31 PM PDT by presidio9

When Pope Benedict XVI greets U.S. President Barack Obama at the Vatican on July 10, the symbolism and sheer star power of the encounter will keep the pundits chattering away. The photo op alone is worth a thousand words: The 82-year-old man in white, the world's most recognizable religious leader and head of its largest single denomination comes face-to-face with the charismatic first black President of the world's last superpower. And the scheduling efforts of both the Vatican and the White House suggest a shared appreciation of the symbolic weight the first encounter between Obama and Benedict could carry.

It was confirmed last week that the two would meet during a highly unusual Friday, 4 p.m. slot immediately after Obama finishes the G8 summit in Rome and prepares to depart for Ghana. Pontiffs almost always meet with visiting dignitaries before lunch, but that's not an option for Obama. And the fact that Benedict leaves Rome two days later for his summer holiday in the Italian Alps has some speculating that the pontiff had delayed his departure in order to be there when the new U.S. President comes to town.

Once they've allowed the photographers their opportunity, Benedict and Obama will speak alone and in private for what will likely be less than one hour. To paint the Obama-meets-Benedict dossier in broad strokes, says one senior Vatican diplomat, "It's basically the reverse of Bush." In other words, the Pope tends to appreciate the new President's less aggressive approach to foreign affairs, while clashing on ethical matters such as abortion rights and stem cell research — where President George W. Bush was seen by the Vatican as one of the few like-minded Western leaders on social issues,

(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhoeurope; bhog8summit; bhovatican; bhovisit; catholic; catholicvote; dncfalseprophets; heresy; popebenedictxvi; separatechurchstate; signsoftheapocalypse; vatican
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

1 posted on 07/05/2009 12:30:31 PM PDT by presidio9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: presidio9

I’ve heard the Pontiff has been eagerly trying to get a slot in Obama’s schedule, what with how Obama is going to set him straight on all freaking things under the sun, and all.


2 posted on 07/05/2009 12:34:07 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

I hope the Pope tells Bozo that he is too busy to see him because he is baptizing babies!


3 posted on 07/05/2009 12:35:57 PM PDT by Batman11 (Chicago, Land of Lincoln who freed the slaves and Land of Obama who enslaved the free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

666 !!!


4 posted on 07/05/2009 12:36:01 PM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannolis. Take it to the Mattress.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Unless the Pope planned an exorcism on Barry, I don’t see the big deal.


5 posted on 07/05/2009 12:39:10 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

matter-antimatter annihilation


6 posted on 07/05/2009 12:39:43 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Don't blame me -- I use Linux.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HiTech RedNeck

HAHAHAHA!


7 posted on 07/05/2009 12:41:27 PM PDT by musicbymuzak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy

Because Michelle is sure to show her non manners in one way or another.


8 posted on 07/05/2009 12:41:37 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Batman11

Would they still be eligible for post-birth abortion according to the Illinois State Senate?


9 posted on 07/05/2009 12:44:07 PM PDT by ConservativeColumns
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Well, at least they’ll share common ground in undermining Israel with their joint insistence for the creation of a philistinian state.


10 posted on 07/05/2009 12:45:35 PM PDT by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Batman11

TIME in the TANK.BO should be treated like
“I’m better than anyone else” N Pelosi.


11 posted on 07/05/2009 12:45:45 PM PDT by SouthCarolinaKit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Pontiffs almost always meet with visiting dignitaries before lunch, but that's not an option for Obama. And the fact that Benedict leaves Rome two days later for his summer holiday in the Italian Alps has some speculating that the pontiff had delayed his departure in order to be there when the new U.S. President comes to town.

Both Osama and the MSM will see this as a successful power play on the part of Osama. Neither will be capable of seeing it for what it is, the exercise of humility.

12 posted on 07/05/2009 12:49:31 PM PDT by johniegrad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Only an obvious moment of analysis...but Time writes this kind of first-year college paper and publishes this as “news”?

The minor league analysis offered by Time is silly. The Pope and the church will lay out the problems and weaknesses of this administration...and offer to help move them to the right strategy. The President will attempt to smile and try to get his message across...but the Pope won’t be buying into this deal.


13 posted on 07/05/2009 12:51:49 PM PDT by pepsionice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Batman11; The Invisible Hand; A CA Guy; Don Corleone

BTW, I’m hoping y’all got a chance to read the entire article. It was only a couple of paragraphs longer, but I had to cut it there. The subheading was not mine, it was from the article. Intrepid Time Magazine reporter actually does get into Pope Benedict XVI’s reasons for seeking out this meeting (which he did not seek out). Apparently, after 2000 years the Church could use the help of a man who voted “present” on the Born Alive Infant Protection Act to get its message out. Thanks Barry.


14 posted on 07/05/2009 12:52:29 PM PDT by presidio9 ("Don't shoot. Let 'em burn.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Maybe Obama will give the Pope an IPod with his address to NARAL and Deicide’s greatest hits already loaded up. Maybe he could toss in Jenna Jameson’s book as well.


15 posted on 07/05/2009 12:52:58 PM PDT by MichiganConservative (Just say "No" to socialism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Visualize Excommunication.


16 posted on 07/05/2009 12:54:55 PM PDT by rfp1234
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Barry won’t be able to go on a world tour to manage the recession he’s made worse and deepened.
At some point he and the Democrats will be toast.

As it is, if voters would read more about who did what they would NEVER have given Barney Frank who caused a lot of the mess more pals in the Congress and Senate.

I hope the Pope starts off by throwing Holy water on President Barry. Would be a hoot if he starts to melt...


17 posted on 07/05/2009 12:57:00 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Who cares about the analysis of the ass hats at Time. They know so little about anything it is stunning.
18 posted on 07/05/2009 12:57:23 PM PDT by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim from C-Town

It’s good to see what the enemy is saying.


19 posted on 07/05/2009 12:58:20 PM PDT by johniegrad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

With Obama’s help, the Catholic Church can begin to right itself once again? I just bet ....


20 posted on 07/05/2009 1:00:18 PM PDT by bboop (obama, little o, not a Real God)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson