20 years ago, 3 American presidents traveled together to mourn a pope. not this time
Twenty years ago this month, President George W. Bush A deceased Pope, John Paul II landed in Rome to pay his honor. He was the first sitting president to participate Map funeralBut he was not alone: he asked his predecessor, Bill ClintonTo ride on Air Force One with his father, George HW Bush.
Together, the three presidents saw the basilica of St. Peter. While kneeling, he prayed shoulder to shoulder before the Pope’s body.
It was a remarkable performance American bipoly unityThe kind of relationship between political rivals seems unimaginable today. And when President Donald Trump Pope landed in Rome on Friday night to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, things were played in different ways. He was accompanied by a clutch of his wife, Melania and senior colleagues. But his predecessor, former President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill flew on their own.
Trump recently snatched away his safety approval biden and condemned him regularly, it is understood that he did not share a ride for Rome. When former President Jimmy Carter died in December, Trump said that he had passed away a “happy man” in this knowledge that “he was not the worst. The President Joe Biden was Biden.”
Biden has often talked about his Roman Catholic upbringing. He briefly saw Francis in Italy in June weeks before the disastrous debate with Trump, due to which he decided to get out of the race. Biden had talked about returning to Rome to get the blessings of the Pope before leaving the White House, but canceled the journey in January due to Los Angeles’ forest fire.
On a flight to Rome, he was asked if he planned to talk with Biden at the funeral, Trump surprised that his predecessor was attended. “This is not much in my list,” he said. “This is not really.” It was the opposite. Bush was eager to ensure that Clinton was part of the full President’s party. Not only did the two participate in the funeral together, Clinton flew up the high -class presidential day on the daily brief.
