First lady meets with pope, discusses violence sparked by cartoons

Published: 2006-02-09

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI expressed his hopes that the U.S. first lady's trip to the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, would be peaceful and spoke of his concern about violent protests taking place in many Islamic countries. First lady Laura Bush and one of her 24-year-old twin daughters, Barbara Bush, met the pope at the Vatican Feb. 9 during a brief stop in Rome on the way to the Olympics. After the meeting, she told reporters traveling with her that peace, terrorism and violence were among the topics the pope raised. "He talked to me about the worries of terrorism, worries right now about violence in Beirut, Damascus and other cities" in the Middle East as protests continued over cartoons published in Europe that many Muslims found offensive. "His hope and certainly our hope (is) for peace and tolerance" and for everyone to treat others with respect, she said.

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