Pope Refuses Meeting With Pompeo
Topline
Pope Francis declined to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his trip to Rome on Wednesday so as to avoid being used as a tool for President Trump’s reelection, according to Vatican officials, a decision that comes as Republicans attempt to baselessly accuse Democrats of resisting Trump’s Supreme Court nominee over anti-Catholic bias.

Asked by Italian news publication ANSA if the meeting was denied out of worries it would amount to “exploitation” prior to the November presidential election, Bishop Paul Richard Gallagher said, « Yes, that is precisely why the Pope will not meet American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. »
Pompeo visited Rome on Wednesday to push back against the renewal of a 2018 deal between China and the Vatican, with some Catholic leaders like Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga saying, « They’re looking for Donald Trump to get elected, and everything is based on that logic. »
(source: forbes.com)