Obama travels to Holy See in March

US President Barack Obama will become the fifth head of a G8 nation to meet Pope Francis when he pays a visit to the Vatican in about eight weeks’ time, writes Robert Mickens.

“The President looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality,” the White House said on Tuesday. The Vatican confirmed that the two leaders would hold their first talks ever on
27 March.

Besides discussing the problem of poverty, the Pope and President Obama are also likely to devote much of their time to a wide range of other global issues – especially peace in the Middle East and Africa.

In the forefront is likely to be the ongoing war in Syria. Francis has spoken out repeatedly for a negotiated solution to the ongoing crisis and revamped the Holy See’s diplomatic efforts in this area.

The Pope has already discussed the issue with other world leaders he has met at the Vatican, including those from Russia, Germany, Israel and Palestine. He was to meet French President François Hollande yesterday. So far he has not seen leaders from the remaining three G8 nations – Britain, Japan and Canada.

While in Rome, President Obama is expected to invite Pope Francis to visit the United States, which could come in September 2015 when Philadelphia hosts the next Vatican-sponsored “World Meeting of Families”.