The Pope and the President, by Robert Royal

By Robert Royal, The Catholic Thing, Nov. 3, 2021

Dr. Robert Royal is editor-in-chief of The Catholic Thing and president of the Faith & Reason Institute in Washington, D.C. His most recent books are Columbus and the Crisis of the West and A Deeper Vision: The Catholic Intellectual Tradition in the Twentieth Century.

NOTE: Robert Royal will join Fr. Gerald Murray and host Raymond Arroyo — the Papal Posse — tomorrow on EWTN’s “The World Over” to discuss the recent meeting at the Vatican between Pope Francis and President Joe Biden. As always, other topics will also be on the agenda. The program airs at 8 PM Eastern and may be viewed shortly thereafter on EWTN’s YouTube channel.

I’ve been critical– on this page and via the Papal Posse at EWTN, among other venues – of many things Pope Francis has said and done. With a proper respect, I believe. But more than everything else – more than the indirect infidelities in Amoris Laetitia; the cringe-making chumminess with McCarrick, Zanchetta, Battista Ricca, and many other abusers; the harsh measures against the TLM; even the outrage of Pachamama – he’s done nothing more outrageous than telling Joe Biden – if the story’s true – that he’s a “good Catholic” and should “continue receiving Communion.”

Biden has demonstrated a very casual relationship with the truth over many years. And we may yet find out that something different was said behind closed doors. The Vatican was evidently nervous about this meeting, which is why it took the unusual step of not allowing any live filming. The Vatican press office has not denied Biden’s account and has only said that it was a private conversation. And that it doesn’t comment on private conversations. …