Vatican City, Oct 3, 2019 / 08:00 am
Pope Francis met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the preservation of Christian communities in the Middle East and the promotion of religious freedom on Thursday.
According to State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, during the Oct. 3 meeting in Vatican City, the two "reaffirmed" the commitment of the U.S and the Holy See "to advancing religious freedom around the world, and in particular, protecting Christian communities in the Middle East."
Pompeo's audience with the pope is part of an international trip to Italy, Vatican City, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Greece.
The meeting followed a Wednesday session between Pompeo and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to mark the 35th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Holy See.