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A LOOK INTO THE PAST: Previous Papal and U.S. President Meetings
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Notable moments in history
Papal and US President meetings go as far back as 1919, following World War I. The historic meeting was the first between a US and a leader of the Catholic Church. President Woodrow Wilson and Pope Benedict XV held their first meeting at the Vatican on January 4, 1919.
Another historic meeting to reckon in history is during Pope Paul VI ad President John F. Kennedy's 1963 meeting at the Vatican. Kennedy was the first ever Roman Catholic president of the United States. The meeting happened just days after the pope's coronation. However, Kennedy shook the Pope's hand during that meeting, rather than the usual practice of kissing his ring.
Pope Paul VI's trip to New York in October 1965 was very interesting. President Lyndon B. Johnson wanted to see the pontiff but the pope was chief of a state that was not officially recognized by the US. To make ends meet, Johnson flew to New York to Arthur Goldberg's apartment to have dinner while the pontiff was welcomed to Johnson's suite at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel the next day, making it possible for a meeting.
President Jimmy Carter was the very first US president to host a papal visit to the White House. Just like Pope Francis, Pope John Paul II was greeted by the president at the Andrews Air Force Base and was later brought to the White House where separate arrival and departure ceremonies were held with 10,000 guests.
President Ronald Reagan's interactions with Pope John Paul his first visit to the Vatican was rather awkward after it was obvious Reagan was having trouble staying awake as his head bobbed and his eyes closed seconds at a time during Pope John Paul's talk about the crises in the Falkland Islands and Lebanon during 1982. The 71-year-old president rekindled rumors he wasn't physically up to the job despite the meeting being held after an unusually packed 10-day European trip.
President Bill Clinton had several meetings with Pope John Paul. However, the pope had a "sharp tongue" for the pro-choice president.
President George W. Bush met with Pope John Paul at the Vatican June 2004, where he presented the pope with the Medal of Freedom, which was the highest civilian honor. In response, the pope read a statement about his "grave concern" over the war in Iraq. After John Paul's death in 2005, Bush was the very first sitting US President to attend a papal funeral.
Current President Barack Obama met with Pope Francis for the first time during his March 2014 visit to the Vatican. The President, together with his family, welcomed Pope Francis to the US on Tuesday. A total of 15,000 people were invited for the arrival ceremony of the Pope on the South Lawn Wednesday morning.
President Barack Obama and Pope Francis met for the first time in March 2014 at the Vatican. Afterward, the Vatican and the White House offered differing accounts of what the leaders discussed during their nearly hour-long meeting.
Obama stressed their common ground on fighting inequality and poverty while Vatican officials emphasized the importance to the Roman Catholic Church's "rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection." That point referred to a major disagreement over mandatory contraceptive coverage under Obama's health care law.
Like Bush, Obama personally welcomed the pope. Obama and first lady Michelle Obama waited at the foot of the airplane stairs at Andrews Air Force Base to greet Francis when he arrived in the U.S. for the first time.
The White House has invited 15,000 people to Francis' arrival ceremony on the South Lawn on Wednesday morning.
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
With Pope Francis visiting the United States for the first time, a look into the past is a wonderful way to see the significance of meetings between past Popes and American Presidents.
Highlights
By Linky C. (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
9/23/2015 (9 years ago)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
9/23/2015 (9 years ago)
Published in U.S.
Keywords: Papal Visits to the US, Catholic Church, Pope and Presidents
MUNTINLUPA CITY, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The current Pope and president have made history as the first Spanish pope and first black president of the United States. Today we take a look back at other noteworthy moments between past popes and American presidents.
Another historic meeting to reckon in history is during Pope Paul VI ad President John F. Kennedy's 1963 meeting at the Vatican. Kennedy was the first ever Roman Catholic president of the United States. The meeting happened just days after the pope's coronation. However, Kennedy shook the Pope's hand during that meeting, rather than the usual practice of kissing his ring.
Pope Paul VI's trip to New York in October 1965 was very interesting. President Lyndon B. Johnson wanted to see the pontiff but the pope was chief of a state that was not officially recognized by the US. To make ends meet, Johnson flew to New York to Arthur Goldberg's apartment to have dinner while the pontiff was welcomed to Johnson's suite at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel the next day, making it possible for a meeting.
President Jimmy Carter was the very first US president to host a papal visit to the White House. Just like Pope Francis, Pope John Paul II was greeted by the president at the Andrews Air Force Base and was later brought to the White House where separate arrival and departure ceremonies were held with 10,000 guests.
President Ronald Reagan's interactions with Pope John Paul his first visit to the Vatican was rather awkward after it was obvious Reagan was having trouble staying awake as his head bobbed and his eyes closed seconds at a time during Pope John Paul's talk about the crises in the Falkland Islands and Lebanon during 1982. The 71-year-old president rekindled rumors he wasn't physically up to the job despite the meeting being held after an unusually packed 10-day European trip.
President Bill Clinton had several meetings with Pope John Paul. However, the pope had a "sharp tongue" for the pro-choice president.
President George W. Bush met with Pope John Paul at the Vatican June 2004, where he presented the pope with the Medal of Freedom, which was the highest civilian honor. In response, the pope read a statement about his "grave concern" over the war in Iraq. After John Paul's death in 2005, Bush was the very first sitting US President to attend a papal funeral.
Current President Barack Obama met with Pope Francis for the first time during his March 2014 visit to the Vatican. The President, together with his family, welcomed Pope Francis to the US on Tuesday. A total of 15,000 people were invited for the arrival ceremony of the Pope on the South Lawn Wednesday morning.
President Barack Obama and Pope Francis met for the first time in March 2014 at the Vatican. Afterward, the Vatican and the White House offered differing accounts of what the leaders discussed during their nearly hour-long meeting.
Obama stressed their common ground on fighting inequality and poverty while Vatican officials emphasized the importance to the Roman Catholic Church's "rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection." That point referred to a major disagreement over mandatory contraceptive coverage under Obama's health care law.
Like Bush, Obama personally welcomed the pope. Obama and first lady Michelle Obama waited at the foot of the airplane stairs at Andrews Air Force Base to greet Francis when he arrived in the U.S. for the first time.
The White House has invited 15,000 people to Francis' arrival ceremony on the South Lawn on Wednesday morning.
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