Joe Biden as Benedict XVI? Therisky comparison it doesn’t come from the American Dems but from theRoman Observer, the Holy See’s daily newspaper. The day after the announcement of the race for the White House, the Vatican press in an article did not spare praise for the American president, speaking of “noble choice” That “puts the good of the country above his own personal interests”, comparing the gesture to the renunciation of the papal throne made by Joseph Ratzinger in 2013.
The Biden-Benedict Comparison
In reality, it must be remembered that Benedict XVI’s decision was communicated on February 11th eleven years ago, taking into account surprise the cardinals gathered in Consistory and the entire world. Biden’s, however, comes almost a month after the disastrous performance in the televised debate with his Republican rival Donald Trump, at a time when all the polls gave him the beaten in the next elections and his most important supporters had called for a step back. Moreover, the announcement followed a series of public statements in which Biden and his staff had said they had no intention of withdrawing. Furthermore, while Benedict XVI has given up In fact, Biden remained president of the United States and only announced that he did not want to run again in an election in which everyone had already given him up for defeat.
Trump assassination coverage
On the one hand, Vatican communication has had no problems in spreading unusual praise for the withdrawal of a candidate from a political race, on the other hand he demonstrated a more cautious attitude in the aftermath of the attack on Donald Trump on July 13. A note arrived only in the late morning of the following day and in response to questions from accredited journalists. The director of the Press Office Matteo Bruni said that the episode “hurts people and democracycausing suffering and death” and that the Holy See joins the US bishops in prayer “for America, for the victims and for peace in the country, so that the reasons of the violent never prevail.” No message of personal solidarity to Trump who was not mentioned by the Pope in the Angelus that day.
That unusual axis on Ukraine
Relations between the Republicans and the Holy See came to a head in the final phase of the Trump administration, when Monsignor Paul Richard GallagherSecretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, claimed that there had been an attempt to exploit the Pope for the visit to Rome of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the run-up to the 2020 elections. In that case, Francis refused to grant an audience to the Republican exponent and the Vatican diplomacy explained that the “no” was due to the custom that would prevent the pontiffs from granting audiences to political figures from countries where electoral campaigns are underway. In reality, a few months before the 2016 elections, Francis shook hands with the candidate for the Democratic nomination Bernie Sanders and a few days later with the then vice president Joe Biden. Despite the evident hostility towards the Republicans that can be felt in Santa Marta, there is a dossier that could facilitate dialogue between the Holy See and the White House in the event of a Trump victory.
In fact, regarding the situation in Ukraine, the tycoon has repeated several times during the electoral campaign that he wants to put an end to the war. “quickly”. A purpose also expressed in a recent phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, commented on by the Republican candidate as follows: “I am glad that you sought me out because I will bring peace to the world and put an end to the war that has already cost too many lives and devastated countless innocent families.”adding that “both sides will be able to negotiate an agreement that ends the violence and paves the way for prosperity.” Compared to the probable continuity represented by Kamala HarrisTrump’s words on the conflict in Ukraine appear more in tune with the positions of Francis who last March, on Swiss Radio and Television, had spoken of the “courage of the white flag” and he had said that “the word negotiate is a courageous word.” The need for negotiation was recently reiterated by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin who, returning from a trip to Kiev where he met Zelensky, specified that “Russia will have to be involved.”
It is not unusual for Bergoglio to change his public attitude towards political leaders with whom he had exchanged attacks.
even ferocious ones: we saw it with the hugs first in Rome and then at the G7 reserved for the Argentinean liberal president Javier Milei. Could this happen with Trump, too, if he returns to the White House?