Pope Francis met with the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in an audience at the Vatican.
Although they greeted one another in English, the Pope quickly switched back into Italian.
“Because I don't speak good English.”
The cordial meeting lasted nearly 40 minutes, during which the Pope recalled his trip to the United States in 2015.
The Secretary offered the Pope a statue of a dove carrying an olive branch, a symbol of peace and freedom.
In return, the Pope gave him a bronze sculpture, with an engraving that reads: “Let us fill our hands with the hands of others.”
He also gave Secretary Blinken the significant texts of his pontificate, including the document on human fraternity he produced with the Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb of Egypt.
Laudato si', Fratelli tutti, and this is the document I wrote with the Grand Imam.
The Pope then gave him rosaries, which he blessed for the Secretary's family.
-'For your wife'.
-'Thank you'.
-'For your children'.
-'Thank you. Thank you'.
Prior to meeting with the Pope, he met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
Secretary Blinken is concluding a week-long tour through Europe to discuss rebuilding society after the pandemic with the continent's leaders. On twitter, he said he was left speechless while touring the Sistine Chapel during his visit.
JM
