Benedict XVI met only 15 minutes with Speaker Nancy Pelosi today in the Vatican. Photographers and reporters were not allowed in the room.  The Vatican then released a text of the pope's remarks to Pelosi, which were pointed on the subject of protecting unborn life.  

Here is what the AP is reporting:

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday told U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life "at all stages of its development," the Vatican said.

Pelosi is the first top Democrat to meet with Benedict since the election of Barack Obama, who won a majority of the Catholic vote despite differences with the Vatican on abortion.

The Vatican released remarks by the pope to Pelosi, saying Benedict spoke of the Church's teaching "on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death." That is an expression often used by the pope when expressing opposition to abortion.

Benedict said all Catholics—especially legislators, jurists, and political leaders—should work to create "a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."

Pelosi could not immediately be reached after the 15-minute meeting, which was closed to reporters and photographers. The two met in a small room off a Vatican auditorium after the pope's weekly public audience.

A number of the bishops in the United States have questioned Pelosi's stance on abortion, particularly her theological defense of her support for abortion rights.

Benedict has cautiously welcomed the new Democratic administration, although several American cardinals have sharply criticized its support of abortion rights, in a break from the administration of former President George W. Bush.

Pelosi had meetings with Italian leaders the past few days, including Premier Silvio Berlusconi. 

Readers have left 5 comments.

   Quote(1) Well done, Holy Father!
February 18th, 2009 | 12:59pm

It seems the Holy Father wisely arranged to meet w/ Speaker Pelosi in private, beyond the reach of journalists and cameras. Thus he killed two birds with one stone, and in teh most charitable possible way, as one would hope the Pope would do:

1) He denied her a photo op that she may have tried to spin or use to her public relations advantage (then again, she may not have done so even if a photo were taken and made public); and

2) he reprimanded her on her errant theology and called her to the carpet for materially cooperating with an intrinsically evil act, abortion, without formally excommunicating her or publicly embarassing her needlessly.

Thank God for sending us such a wise and holy man as the successor to Peter at this time in Church history!

 Written by Kevin in Texas

   Quote(2) Denied photo op?? Reprimand?? Not excommunicated!!
February 18th, 2009 | 1:28pm

Talk about reading a lot into an objective news report.

Just goes to show how so much "news" gets fabricated and spun.

 Written by Amazed (and entertained)

   Quote(3) To Amazed:
February 18th, 2009 | 7:08pm

You can add "shamed" to the list of all else you cite.

 Written by Deacon Ed

   Quote(4) Happy
February 18th, 2009 | 9:53pm

As a Catholic (and therefore pro-life) I was, overall, very happy with how the Pope handled his meeting with Speaker Pelosi. I agree that by (a) denying her a photo op, and (b) issuing a press release that focused solely on the life issue--thus giving the media nothing else to selectively quote, and so "controlling the message"--the Pope/Vatican seems to have made the most out of a tough situation.

Some will grumble that the Pope did not go far enough. Maybe, but if that's the case the blame is on Pelosi and those other pro-abortion operatives who will try to spin the meeting into an endorsement of sorts, which is something I fully expect and simultaneously dread. But the fact of the matter is that as head of state it really might have been inappropriate to completely turn down a meeting...which is why I, again, think he made the best out of a bad situation.

 Written by MByrne

   Quote(5) Re: Denied photo op?? Reprimand?? Not excommunicated!!
February 19th, 2009 | 12:27am

Talk about reading a lot into an objective news report.

Just goes to show how so much "news" gets fabricated and spun.

— Amazed (and entertained)

Alas, you're right, Amazed! The Pope has NEVER been known to pose for photos with diplomats and world leaders when they pay him a visit at the Vatican, as Speaker Pelosi did this morning. And the Vatican press office ALWAYS puts out a press release immediately after such non-photo'ed meetings speaking ONLY and SPECIFICALLY about the need for Catholic politicians to support the right to life from conception to natural death!

I wish I had thought more about my original post and realized that the Pope and the Vatican did absolutely nothing out of the ordinary today in and after the Pontiff's meeting with Pelosi. Thank you for clearing that up for me as simple "fabrications" and "spin" on an otherwise completely unremarkable visit! Speaker Pelosi is clearly thrilled with how that visit turned out, no doubt.

 Written by Kevin in Texas

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