Pompeo’s trip to the Vatican will not include a meeting with Pope Francis. Here’s why
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s trip to Europe will not include a meeting with Pope Francis, who is reluctant to have the Catholic Church drawn into the presidential election.
Italian publication ANSA reported on the lack of a get-together as the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, Paul Richard Gallagher, acknowledged Wednesday that a U.S.-organized religious symposium at its embassy was being used to exploit the Pope just before Nov. 3’s election.
“Yes, that is precisely why the pope will not meet American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,” Gallagher said, according to ANSA.
The publication also said Vatican policy required “avoiding papal audiences with high-ranking U.S. officials during U.S. election periods.”
Pompeo, a former Kansas Congressman, met with other top Vatican officials this week, while reiterating his stance that the Holy See should not renew a two-year agreement with China regarding the appointment of Catholic bishops because of the country’s human rights violations.
“The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal,” Pompeo tweeted two weeks ago.
Pompeo has faced criticism for his open support of Trump while serving as Secretary of State, which included on his behalf during the Republican National Convention in August.
Pompeo previously met with Pope Francis on Oct. 3, 2019.
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 11:16 AM with the headline "Pompeo’s trip to the Vatican will not include a meeting with Pope Francis. Here’s why."
