Panetta meets with Pontiff after Wednesday audience
January 16, 2013
Outgoing US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on January 16.
Panetta was among a number of people in attendance at the regular Wednesday papal audience who were ushered forward to greet the Pontiff. He reported that the Pope had thanked him for “helping to protect the world.” The Vatican had no comment on the meeting.
A New York Times report noted that Panetta’s encounter with the Pope was not a private audience. Pope Benedict has made it his practice to arrange quick meetings with visiting dignitaries after his weekly audiences. Private audiences, which ordinarily are listed on the Pope’s official calendar, are reserved for more formal meetings.
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Further information:
- Pentagon chief Panetta meets Pope Benedict (AP)
- Panetta, at Vatican, Says Pope Thanks Him for Service (New York Times)
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Posted by: Defender -
Jan. 17, 2013 4:53 PM ET USA
And...Don't Ask, Don't Tell, telling chaplains they must marry same-sex couples, and imposing the Maoist-style reeducation session with the military. No one compelled Panetta to be SecDef and assist this president in the destruction of moral values of the military.
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Posted by: -
Jan. 17, 2013 10:17 AM ET USA
Panetta is a "staunch Catholic"?? Since when do staunch Catholics repeatedly support abortion as he did in his days in the Congress??
