Pope Francis was a figure of global importance, meeting countless leaders and celebrities over his 12 years as Pope. Among them were Donald and Melania Trump, who recently confirmed they will attend his funeral. The Trumps, during their White House tenure, met Pope Francis at the Vatican, an encounter remembered for more than just the formalities.
The meeting had its share of hiccups. Pope Francis attempted to converse in Italian with Melania, who has claimed to be conversant in the language. However, doubts surfaced about this claim when the conversation at the Vatican seemed to hit a snag.
It’s with heavy hearts we reflect on Pope Francis’s passing. At 88, and originally from Buenos Aires, he made his farewell appearance on an Easter Sunday at St. Peter’s Square. Just a few days later, on April 21, the news of his demise was announced.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell on Vatican TV. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
Pope Francis endured significant health struggles in his later years, having only one full lung and enduring multiple surgeries. Of recent concern was a life-threatening respiratory condition that saw him hospitalized for over a month.
The Vatican press confirmed that his passing was due to a stroke, followed by a coma and cardiac failure verified by electrocardiographic thanatography.
Pope Francis dead at 88
Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, who oversees the Vatican’s health services, disclosed these details, affirming them with utmost precision.
Pope Francis’s papacy was marked by his extensive travel; he visited 68 countries and met with influential figures, including U.S. presidents. His initial encounter with a sitting U.S. leader was with Barack Obama in 2014.
During their meeting, considerations of global significance like human rights were discussed, with Obama reflecting on the pope’s moral perspective on global issues.
Obama invited Francis to the White House, resulting in an historical visit in 2015. This visit was significant, especially since Pope Francis addressed the Congress, drawing tens of thousands to witness history.
Pope Francis’ meetings with U.S. presidents
“Today I would like not only to address you, but through you the entire people of the United States…” Pope Francis began his profound speech to Congress. He addressed the common man, emphasizing contributions to society’s fabric beyond mere tax payment.
The Pope made a brief yet touching appearance on the speaker’s balcony, focusing on the importance of blessing the children present among the crowd. His words acknowledged both believers and those who didn’t share the faith, promoting goodwill and unity.
On that same day, Francis met future President Joe Biden, then Vice President. However, his rendezvous with President Trump and Melania was notably complex with past tensions regarding policy differences.
Though Trump once criticized Pope Francis, saying, “It’s not Pope-like” for everyday actions like paying hotel bills, the Pope’s moral emphasis remained unaffected.
Amid these differences, Trump was compelled to meet the Pope in 2017. Notably, the encounter commenced with an awkward exchange concerning Melania’s language skills.
The First Lady, with Slovene roots, claimed proficiency in five languages including Italian. Yet, at pivotal moments with Pope Francis, she didn’t show these skills publicly.
“She looked at him and said nothing”
When Pope Francis spoke to her in Italian, an interpreter had to facilitate the conversation, leading to an exchange over a Slovenian cake, “potica”. The moment highlighted possible gaps in Melania’s claimed language abilities.
Eventually, Mary Jordan’s book, “The Art of Her Deal”, shed light on this encounter. It was revealed that Pope Francis had prepared to converse in Italian, assuming Melania’s fluency.
Melania’s exchanges reflected her limited Italian, reinforcing speculations from Jordan that it may have been due to other factors like awe or courtesy during family-inclusive meetings.
Did Melania Trump lie about her Italian language skills?
American First Ladies historically embraced language skills; JFK’s wife famously conversed fluently with Pope John XXIII. Melania, meanwhile, hasn’t openly demonstrated similar proficiency despite public claims.
Mary Jordan explores this ambiguity in her book, expressing doubts about Melania’s language proficiencies beyond Slovenian and English, given the lack of comprehensive evidence.
Whether Melania is fluent in several languages or not, it was undoubtedly a unique opportunity to meet Pope Francis. With his passing, we reflect on his life and legacy, worthy of remembrance and reverence.
