USCCB leaders meet privately with pope at Vatican

Published: 2006-10-16

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops met privately Oct. 16 with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. The conference president, Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., and vice president, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, were joined at the meeting by Msgr. David J. Malloy, general secretary of the conference. The officers usually visit the Vatican twice each year for meetings with the heads of Vatican congregations and councils to discuss issues of common concern. Bishop Skylstad told Catholic News Service the 25-minute meeting with the pope was "very pleasant," but that it would not be appropriate to discuss the specific topics mentioned during the audience. "It is a courtesy visit," he said. "We chat about the church in general and are open to hearing what he has to say to us."

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