This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/world/europe/trump-pope-vatican.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
The Latest: Trump’s Meeting With Pope Prompts Lockdown in Rome The Latest: Trump’s Meeting With Pope Prompts Lockdown in Rome
(about 1 hour later)
■ Pope Francis welcomed President Trump to the Vatican on Wednesday for the first face-to-face meeting of two leaders with contrasting visions. ■ Pope Francis welcomed President Trump to the Vatican on Wednesday for the first face-to-face meeting of the two leaders, who have vastly contrasting visions.
■ For Mr. Trump, the audience in the Vatican caps a tour of the ancestral homes of three of the world’s great monotheistic religions.■ For Mr. Trump, the audience in the Vatican caps a tour of the ancestral homes of three of the world’s great monotheistic religions.
■ For Francis, it was a chance to welcome a second American leader, after President Barack Obama paid his respects in 2014.■ For Francis, it was a chance to welcome a second American leader, after President Barack Obama paid his respects in 2014.
Security was tight in Rome for President Trump’s visit to Italy and his morning audience with Pope Francis. Security was tight in Rome for Mr. Trump’s visit and for his morning audience with Pope Francis.
Rome’s city center has been under intense surveillance, with additional cameras installed and hundreds of policemen sent to patrol roads that Mr. Trump’s motorcade might use. The city center of Rome has been under intense surveillance, with additional cameras installed and hundreds of police officers sent to patrol roads that Mr. Trump’s motorcade might use.
Roads were cordoned off and city buses diverted in the area around the United States ambassador’s residence, where Mr. Trump was staying, in an affluent northern section of Rome. Streets were cordoned off and city buses were diverted around the American ambassador’s residence, in an affluent northern neighborhood of Rome, where Mr. Trump spent the night.
Around Vatican City and the Quirinal Hill, where Mr. Trump is scheduled to meet President Sergio Mattarella of Italy just before lunch, access was also limited to the presidential motorcade.Around Vatican City and the Quirinal Hill, where Mr. Trump is scheduled to meet President Sergio Mattarella of Italy just before lunch, access was also limited to the presidential motorcade.
Italy increased its security alert level soon after the Paris attacks in 2015, but even by relative standards, tensions were high. On Tuesday morning, a bomb disposal team rushed to Via della Conciliazione, the avenue leading to St. Peter’s Square, to check a dark bag that had been left near a flowerpot. It turned out to contain clothes and a map. Italy increased its security alert level soon after the Paris attacks of 2015, but tensions were relatively high. On Tuesday morning, a bomb disposal team rushed to Via della Conciliazione, the avenue leading to St. Peter’s Square, to check a dark bag that had been left near a flowerpot. It turned out to contain clothes and a map.
Past presidential visits to Rome have prompted demonstrations and even riots, but President Trump’s presence was met with only muted opposition. Past presidential visits to Rome have prompted demonstrations and even riots, but Mr. Trump’s presence met only muted opposition.
The only protest of note took place on Tuesday evening in a nondescript Roman piazza that one of the organizers, Tanya Halkyard, an American living in Rome, described as “not iconic but accessible.” The sole protest of note took place Tuesday evening in a Roman piazza that one of the organizers, Tanya Halkyard, an American living in Rome, described as “not iconic but accessible.”
It was also the only venue that the city’s security officials allowed them to use, she said, as already tight security measures across Rome were further tightened during Mr. Trump’s stay. It was also the only venue that the city’s security officials allowed them to use, she said, as already tight security measures across Rome were tightened further for Mr. Trump’s stay.
Ms. Halkyard is the local leader of American Expats for Positive Change, which was founded “right after the election results” as a channel to give a voice to Americans who felt frustrated but could not attend town hall meetings or visit Washington. “It’s important to make some noise and show there is a global resistance and that his opponents are everywhere,” she said. Ms. Halkyard is the local leader of American Expats for Positive Change, which was founded “right after the election” as a channel to give a voice to Americans overseas who could not attend town hall-style meetings in the United States or visit Washington. “It’s important to make some noise and show there is a global resistance, and that his opponents are everywhere,” she said.
There were about as many police officers and media operators as there were demonstrators at the “Rome Resists – Trump Protest” on Tuesday, but the protesters made themselves heard. They chanted: “No Warfare More Healthcare” or “Social Rights are Human Rights,” occasionally switching to songs, from “America the Beautiful” to the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.” There were about as many police officers and members of the news media as there were demonstrators at the “Rome Resists — Trump Protest” on Tuesday, but the protesters made themselves heard. They chanted “No warfare, more health care” and “Social rights are human rights,” occasionally switching to songs, including “America the Beautiful” and the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.”
“I grew up with these songs,” said one of the few Italians who attended the rally, Chiara Midolo, who described herself as “Americanista,” or pro-American. “I’m very sad about what’s happening after eight years that were years of hope for us.” “I grew up with these songs,” said Chiara Midolo, one of few Italians at the rally, who described herself as Americanista, or pro-American. “I’m very sad about what’s happening after eight years that were years of hope for us.”
— Elisabetta Povoledo— Elisabetta Povoledo
As soon as Melania Trump set foot on Italian soil on Tuesday, she began to make news. Stefano Gabbana, half of the Dolce & Gabbana brand, spared no time in noting on Instagram that the first lady had stepped off Air Force One wearing one of the label’s designs. “THANK YOU,” he wrote.
Only Roman Catholic queens and princesses are allowed to wear white during a private papal audience, so Mrs. Trump chose a black lace dress and veil over her hair — no word yet on the designer. She also held a rosary, which she asked the pope to bless. He complied.
After the president and his entourage met with Francis, Mrs. Trump was whisked off for a private tour of the Pauline Chapel, which has frescoes by Michelangelo, and of the Sala Regia, where popes held court for centuries. Both halls are normally off limits to the general public.
Mrs. Trump then joined the president for a quick peek at the Sistine Chapel before visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, which was closed to tourists until the visit was over.
— Elisabetta Povoledo
Details of the discussion between Pope Francis and Mr. Trump remain private for now, but it is clear that Francis had some things on his mind.
During a visit to Rome shortly after federal courts blocked Mr. Trump’s order barring refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia spoke briefly with the pope at a rope line.
Mr. Kaine described telling Francis how important it was that the pope served as an advocate for refugees in the United States, adding that he did not need to mention Mr. Trump by name. “He knew what I was talking about,” Mr. Kaine said.
The senator said the pope had responded by saying: “I’m going to keep doing what I am doing. But the U.S.’s role in this, world wide, is incredibly important, and we need strong leaders in the U.S. to stand up for American principles and humanitarianism.”
The senator said that the pope had expressed appreciation for efforts he had led, but that the pontiff had urged him to “please get more of your colleagues to be helpful.”
— Jason Horowitz
James Nicholson, an ambassador to the Vatican during the George W. Bush administration, said that he had helped arrange the meeting between Mr. Trump and Pope Francis after he realized that the president’s advisers — unaware that they had to request an audience with the pope — were waiting for an invitation.
“They hadn’t gotten an invitation, and I said, ‘You’ll never get an invitation,’ ” said Mr. Nicholson.
He added that he had emphasized to Joseph W. Hagin, the White House deputy chief of staff for operations, and other administration officials that Mr. Trump was at risk of becoming the first American president since World War II to visit Italy and not see the pope.
“That was a data point that I was pretty persistent on,” he said.
— Jason Horowitz
Mr. Trump had a large entourage with him at the Vatican on Wednesday, but one senior member of his administration was noticeably absent.
The senior adviser, Stephen K. Bannon, returned to Washington before Mr. Trump traveled to the Vatican, ostensibly for budget talks. But Mr. Bannon has repeatedly criticized Pope Francis, alternately calling him a socialist, a global elitist and a promoter of Muslim migration to Europe.
“I think that’s probably relevant, given that he is a key adviser to the president,” said Mr. Nicholson, the former American ambassador to the Vatican. “That is why this visit is so important. There still is an educational element to it, it is an opportunity for President Trump to learn a lot more about this man, his life and his formation. He is such a figure on the world stage that it’s good they get to know each other, and maybe build a friendship.”
— Jason Horowitz