Pope Francis met at the Vatican with Bono Vox, the famous U2 singer, who took advantage of his European tour to stop in the smallest state in the world. He spoke with the pope about how to improve the education of the children most in need.
Bono has worked for more than 30 years within the philanthropic foundation he co-founded, ONE. It acts to end extreme poverty for children and he has traveled to Africa more than once to help. Thus, his gift for the pope was from this experience.
BONO
U2 Singer
“In the Ethiopian famine, myself and my wife, Ali, we worked in a feeding station for five weeks. It broke our heart.”
The pope returned the gesture with an olive tree of peace. He said in Buenos Aires back when he was a priest, it was essential to educate to instill peace.
They affectionately said goodbye and the pope asked the singer something that's not very unusual.
'Pray for me, please. Don't forget about that.'
Later, Bono went to the press room where all the media were waiting for him. He explained his conversation with Pope Francis and said that inevitably the cases of abuse came up.
BONO
U2 Singer
“We also, inevitably having come from Ireland, we talked about the pope's feelings, about what has happened in the Church. And I explained how it looks to some people like the abusers are being more protected than the victims. And you could see the pain in his face; and I felt he was sincere. And I think he is an extraordinary man for extraordinary times.”
It's not the first time that the singer has met with a pope. In 1999, he had an audience with Pope John Paul II.
