Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Obama phones pope to thank him for congratulatory message

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama telephoned Pope Benedict XVI to thank the pope for his message of congratulations on his election victory.

The pope was one of the many world leaders Obama has been contacting since his Nov. 4 win.

The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, confirmed to Catholic News Service Nov. 12 that the president-elect telephoned the pope Nov. 11 "to thank the pope for his telegram, his congratulations" on winning the U.S. presidential election.

Further details about the call were not known, Father Lombardi said.

Pope Benedict sent his congratulations Nov. 5, referring to the "historic occasion" of the election, marking the first time a black man has been elected president of the United States.

Father Lombardi said Nov. 5 the pope prayed that "the blessing of God would sustain him (Obama) and the American people so that with all people of good will they could build a world of peace, solidarity and justice."

The press office for Obama's presidential transition team said all conversations with world leaders are private and no details would be released on this conversation or any conversation with world leaders.

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Contributing to this story was Dennis Sadowski in Washington.

2 Comments:

At 4:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is very fitting that the Pope should be in contact with the next modern equivalent of the Holy Roman Emperor. They did not always agree with Popes and were often called to account by them.

 
At 4:24 PM, Blogger Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. said...

Let's pray especially that Obama is held in check on implementing FOCA and his horrendous anti-life agenda.

 

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