And Now, They've Spoken

Yesterday, the POTUS-elect called the Pope:

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."

Meanwhile, on this side of the Pond, the USCCB president indicated yesterday that "discussions" about a possible meeting between himself and the president-elect have begun, yet conceded that his relationship with Obama "is not very developed."

Cardinal Francis George said that he'd met the incoming commander-in-chief "a number of times [and] it’s always been a friendly meeting," but that their interaction to date has been "never substantive."

Speaking at the evening press conference, the archbishop of Chicago added that he "would hope, since he is a citizen of Illinois, and Chicago, that we could begin a relationship based upon that fact.''

PHOTO: AFP/Getty

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