Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has met Pope Francis while in Rome to attend a conference on social, economic and environmental issues.
Bernie Sanders has told the media in Rome that he and wife Jane briefly met with Pope Francis this morning in the papal residence. He said the meeting took place just before the pontiff left Rome for a one-day visit to Greece.
The presidential contender told the media he was honored by the meeting, and told Pope Francis that he appreciated his push to inject morality and justice into the world economy.
“It was a real honor for me, for my wife and I to spend some time with him. I think he is one of the extraordinary figures not only in the world today but in modern world history.”
Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, a foreign policy adviser to Bernie Sanders said that no photos were taken of the meeting, which he said lasted for around five minutes.
Sanders made a quick trip to Rome days before New York’s critical primary to address a high-level meeting held by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. The Vatican had invited him to the event.
The Vermont Senator has long been an admirer of Pope Francis, and agrees with him on many issues, including climate change, and income and wealth inequality.
