Politics

Pope, Biden discuss climate, migration in lengthy, cordial meeting

Vatican City, Oct 29 (EFE).- The President of the United States, Joe Biden, on Friday met with Pope Francis, for a visit to the Vatican that lasted more than three hours.

Francis and Biden clasped hands in friendship as they discussed the climate crisis and assistance to migration.

Biden is only the second ever Catholic US President after John F Kennedy.

The Democrat’s visit to the Vatican comes amid criticism he has faced from more conservative sectors of the American Catholic Church for his stance in favor of abortion rights, which does not seem to have strained the meeting.

The private meeting between the two lasted 75 minutes, surpassing the 50 that Francis devoted to Barack Obama and the barely 30 minutes for Donald Trump.

During the private meeting they discussed the common commitment to the protection and care of the planet, the health situation and the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the issue of refugees, and how to provide assistance for migrants,” according to a Vatican press release.

The two also discussed “protection of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and conscience”, and they went over “some matters regarding the current international situation, also in the context of the G20 summit in Rome,” and on achieving world peace “through political negotiation.”

Biden is in Rome to participate in the G20 leaders’ meeting and is scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron. EFE

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