Bush at Vatican meeting with Pope

by Barry Artiste | June 13, 2008 at 04:21 am

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President Bush and two successive Popes seem to enjoy their regular, almost quarterly visits, leading some to believe perhaps President Bush is asking for absolution for past, present and future policies.

Regardless, President Bush's visits always provide Fodder for Political Satirists at every visit.

ROME - Pope Benedict is giving U.S. President George W. Bush a rare peek today of the Vatican Gardens, a spot where popes pray privately and only special guests are allowed.

Normally, VIPs are received in the Pope's library in the Apostolic Palace.

That's where Bush had his first meeting with Benedict in June 2007.

But in an apparent gesture of appreciation for the warm welcome Bush gave him in Washington in April, Benedict welcomed the president and first lady Laura Bush in the Vatican Gardens near St. John's Tower.

After their meeting, scheduled for a half hour, Bush and the Pope were to walk through the gardens.

Bush and Benedict both oppose abortion, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research. But they disagree on other issues, including the war in Iraq.