Donald Trump descended on the Vatican this week heralding the first face-to-face meeting between two of the world’s most powerful men whose personal, political, intellectual, and spiritual differences couldn’t be more different. Photographs taken after the event showed an obviously glum-looking Pope Francis standing next to a grinning Trump and his family. The pictures went viral, and with good reason. The two disagree on issues closest to the 80-year-old Argentinian pontiff’s heart: climate change, interfaith dialogue, peace in the Middle East, immigration and the the need to integrate migrants and refugees of all faiths. That being said, they do however agree on issues like stopping religious persecution and combating human trafficking.
Gifting the president a small sculptured olive tree, His Holiness urged the US President to use his position to promote world peace. But isn’t that easier said than done? Especially considering the conflict in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, North Africa and mounting tensions in North Korea. These are important issues in a world that just gets darker by the day.
