VATICAN CITY (WNB) - Pope Francis and President Obama gave dramatically different accounts of their meeting Thursday.
Obama told reporters that the two men spent the nearly hour-long session "discussing the evils of wealth inequality, greenhouse gasses, the Koch brothers, and the aggression of Vladimir Putin."
"Pope Francis and myself discussed the pressing matters of the day, and I am honored by the fact that he wholeheartedly agreed with my positions. It was a positive meeting filled with validation that in God's eyes we are on the right track," said Obama.
The Vatican statement released shortly after the meeting differed significantly from the President's:
Pope Francis and President Obama discussed at length issues of particular relevance for the church in the United States, such as the Obama administration's suppression of religious freedom, the glorification of homosexuality and the promotion of homosexual marriage, and the continued wholesale slaughter of unborn children. The Holy See informed Mr. Obama that he was doing the work of Satan, and urged him to repent for the sake of his country, and himself.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney called the wildly differing accounts "a matter of perception."
Pope Francis visits with President Obama