John Kerry talks Syria with Pope's aide
- 10 years ago
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry - the first Catholic U.S. secretary of state in more than 30 years - stopped at the Vatican on his way to Kuwait and met with Pope Francis' top diplomat Secretary of State Archbishop Pietro Parolin.
Their talks focused on the Middle East and other foreign policy issues including efforts to bring an end to the Syrian civil war ahead of a peace conference in Geneva later this month.
(SOUNDBITE) JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE SAYING:
"It is very important to have broad support and I know that the Pope is particularly concerned about the massive numbers of displaced human beings and the violence that has taken over 130,000 lives."
Kerry also asked for the Vatican's help winning the release of an American contractor who has been jailed in Cuba since 2009 since the Vatican has fairly good diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Their talks focused on the Middle East and other foreign policy issues including efforts to bring an end to the Syrian civil war ahead of a peace conference in Geneva later this month.
(SOUNDBITE) JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE SAYING:
"It is very important to have broad support and I know that the Pope is particularly concerned about the massive numbers of displaced human beings and the violence that has taken over 130,000 lives."
Kerry also asked for the Vatican's help winning the release of an American contractor who has been jailed in Cuba since 2009 since the Vatican has fairly good diplomatic relations with Cuba.