Pope Francis met with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Rome

 

Pope Francis met with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Rome on Saturday

This came after a US appeals court reinstated the Texas abortion ban after six weeks.

President Joe Biden is expected to meet the Pope in a few weeks when he is in Rome for talks among the leaders of the major economies of the Group of Twenty.

Pelosi, who has five children, said she supports a woman's right to choose

Biden said he opposes abortion, but he cannot impose his political views.

Pope Francis met US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who some bishops have criticized in the United States for supporting abortion rights.

Their meeting took place in Vatican City on Saturday, several weeks before Joe Biden is expected to meet the Pope when the president is in Rome for talks among the leaders of the Group of 20 major economies.

Biden said he opposes abortion, but he cannot impose his political views. Pelosi, who has five children, said she supports a woman's right to choose.

Biden and Pelosi's administration urged judges to block a new Texas law banning abortions for six weeks, which was unconstitutional.

The conservative-leaning appeals court temporarily reinstated the ban on Friday.

Pope Francis met with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the Vatican City on Saturday.

Pelosi said her meeting with the Pope was a 'spiritual, personal and solemn honor.'

Their meeting took place in Vatican City on Saturday, several weeks before Joe Biden is expected to meet the Pope.

Pelosi was joined by her husband, Paul, in meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The Catholic Church teaches that human life begins at conception, and Biden and Pelosi have been criticized by conservative Catholic media and conservative bishops in the United States. Some of them say neither should be allowed to receive Eucharist.

Last month the Pope was asked about the controversy over American Communion, told reporters that abortion is 'murder,' even shortly after conception, and appeared to criticize American Catholic bishops for handling the issue in a political rather than pastoral way.

The Pope said: "Communion is not a prize for perfection...communion is a gift, the presence of Jesus and his Church."

In June, a divided conference of American Roman Catholic bishops voted on a draft statement about the communion that some bishops say should target Catholic politicians, including Biden. They will bring up the issue again next month.

In a statement, Pelosi said her meeting with the Pope was a "spiritual, personal and solemn honor."

His Holiness' leadership is a source of joy and hope for Catholics and for all people, as he challenges each of us to be good stewards of God's creation, work on climate, and embrace refugees, immigrants, and the poor. Pelosi said in a statement