00:00We work with the Vatican on a lot of things. Our relationship between, you know, for example, our mission here
00:04in the Vatican, like I told you, we're working together on humanitarian issues. We're focused on other issues as well.
00:11The president's perspective is clear. He thinks that Iran is a threat and it needs to be addressed.
00:17And that position remains unchanged. And I think we're capable of having that position and expressing that position clearly and
00:24also working cooperatively and as we have for centuries, as we have for decades with the Vatican and with the
00:31Catholic Church who has a global presence.
00:33Did you explicitly ask the Pope to stop his criticism of the Iran war?
00:39I'm not going to discuss what I talk about the Pope, but I'm not going to ask him. That's not
00:42the purpose of it. I told you guys before I even came here.
00:45And that is that we have a very strong relationship with the Vatican. We've worked with them on a lot
00:49of things around the world.
00:50This was a trip that had been planned even before all these things that happened.
00:54So just as an example, why would I not want to hear the perspectives of the most important, in many
01:01cases, a far-reaching religious leader in the world on his perspectives about what he saw on his trip to
01:06Africa?
01:07Or what his bishops and others and agencies are hearing in the Western Hemisphere?
01:11Or the plight of Christians in Africa, but also those in Lebanon?
01:16So of course we're going to engage with them on these things. That was the purpose of our meeting and
01:20in that realm it was very, very productive.
01:21And it was a good meeting because we were able to talk about these different areas of the world where
01:25they have a presence, where they are engaged, and we are as well.
01:28I think it's an opportunity to personally express our point of view from the standpoint of foreign policy and the
01:34areas we're involved in and share insights, but also to gain insights.
01:38Because the church has a unique role in many of these countries in terms of the insights and information that
01:42they're receiving.
01:43In some cases in the past, the church has been an important interlocutor, not just with governments but with societies.
01:48And then of course on the practical level, the church plays an important role in humanitarian efforts in different parts
01:54of the world, and in many places has served as a facilitator of U.S. humanitarian assistance, such as I
01:59highlighted a moment ago when it comes to Cuba.
02:01Why would I tell you what I'm going to recommend to the president? But beyond that, the president will always
02:05speak clearly about how he feels about the U.S. and U.S. policy.
02:08The president of the United States is always going to act in what's in the best interest of the United
02:12States.
02:12I think we can do that and continue to also have a very productive and fruitful and important relationship with
02:19the church because it plays an important role in the world as well.
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