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IPFS News Link • Government

Pence to Pope Francis: 'You have made me a hero'

• https://www.reuters.com, Philip Pullella

Pence's talks with Francis in the papal library lasted about an hour, twice as long as the meeting between the pope and U.S. President Donald Trump in the same frescoed room in May 2017.

During an exchange of gifts after the private talks, Francis gave Pence a small white box with a papal medal inside.

"I didn't want to ask," Pence said with a laugh as the pope handed him the box. "This is for mom."

As he was leaving the papal library, Pence, still clutching the small white box, said: "Thank you, Your Holiness, you have made me a hero ... God bless you."

Pence, who had a strict Irish Catholic upbringing but later converted to evangelical Protestantism, appeared to be referring to the fact that the rest of his family had stayed in the Roman Catholic Church and that his departure from the faith had put some strain on family relations.

During their private talks, Pence and the pope discussed, among other topics, Friday's "March for Life" anti-abortion demonstration in Washington, the vice-president's office said. Trump will become the first U.S. president to attend the annual rally.


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