Donald Trump arrives in Rome for a high-profile meeting with Pope Francis in his first official trip to Europe since becoming US President.
Having departed from Israel some four hours earlier, Trump touched down in the Italian capital aboard Air Force One just before 6:45 p.m. local time.
He is due at the Vatican on Wednesday morning for a meeting with the pope, with whom he has clashed on numerous issues ranging from the plight of migrants to unbridled capitalism and climate change. They also disagree on issues like the death penalty and the arms trade but do have common ground to explore on the issues of abortion and the persecution of Christians.
US President Donald Trump (R) and First Lady Melania Trump wave goodbye from Air Force One at Ben Gurion International Airport on May 23, 2017. (AFP Photo/Jack Guez)
After the papal audience, also to be attended by Trump’s wife Melania and daughter Ivanka, the Trump couple are to be given a tour of the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.
The president will then meet Italy’s president and prime minister at the presidential palace, the Quirinale, while Melania visits a children’s hospital and Ivanka discusses migrant issues with members of the St Egidio religious community.
The Trump team is due to fly to Brussels on Wednesday afternoon for meetings with EU and NATO officials before returning to Italy late Thursday for the G7 summit in Sicily on Friday and Saturday.
— AFP
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