Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Pope Benedict welcomes Bush to Vatican

|
|
 
  
Pope Benedict XVI on April 16, 2008. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) 
License photo
Published: June 13, 2008 at 7:54 AM

VATICAN CITY, June 13 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush and Pope Benedict XVI strolled Friday through the Vatican garden during Bush's second official meeting with the pontiff.

The Vatican said the pope wanted to show his appreciation for the warmth he was shown when he visited the United States, the BBC reported.

"It's a great honor," Bush told Benedict, who met the president at his car, ANSA, the Italian news agency, reported. First lady Laura Bush also spoke with the pontiff, thanking him for the invitation.

Bush and the pope agree on issues such as abortion, stem cell research and humanitarian aid to Africa. However, the two disagree on Iran -- the Vatican has open diplomatic relations with Tehran unlike the United States.

Bush flew to Europe this week to attend the EU summit in Slovenia and to visit several countries, likely for the last time as president. Bush's next stop is Paris, where he will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Topics: First Lady Laura Bush, George Bush, Laura Bush, Pope Benedict XVI
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala
Indianapolis 500 Presidential Medal of Freedom Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 27
Snigdha Nandipati of San Diego wins Finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee
View Caption
Snigdha Nandipati of San Diego, California watches confetti rain down as she wins the two-day Scripps National Spelling Bee championship, May 31, 2012, in National Harbor, Maryland. Nandipati successfully spelled the word .* guetapens *, meaning to lure or ambush. UPI/Mike Theiler
fark
Family forced to flee their apartment after their upstairs neighbors start shooting into the floor...
Ladies mount your poles. The RNC is coming
If you ever did win the lottery, would you give it away or surprise people with it in fun ways?
Criminal Pro-tip: when you steal someone's credit card, don't use your own grocery club card on...
The 21 absolute worst things in the world (not a slideshow). Bonus: #21
Egg-ception