Obama set for emotional visits
2009-07-10 10:37
Charles Babington
L'Aquila - President Barack Obama is ending three days of policy discussions with fellow world leaders to embark on two of the most photogenic and emotional events of his young presidency: meeting the pope at the Vatican and visiting Ghana.
He was throwing in a televised news conference from Italy for good measure.
Obama, his wife and daughters will meet Pope Benedict XVI shortly before leaving Italy late on Friday for Ghana. The two men have spoken by phone but not met before, aides say.
In Ghana, officials expect a tumultuous reception for Obama, whose father was from Kenya. Because the first family arrives rather late on Friday night, the main ceremony in Accra will occur on Saturday, before he departs for Washington after a weeklong trip that started in Russia.
It will involve drumming groups and Ghanians "putting their best foot forward in terms of the cultural richness of an incredibly diverse country", White House adviser Michelle Gavin told reporters on Thursday. To help accommodate the many who cannot attend, US and Ghanian officials have scheduled "watch parties", radio broadcasts and video coverage in theatres, parks and other places.
Mix success
"I do not believe that there is a way in which we could ever fulfill or assuage the desires of those in Ghana or on the continent on one stop," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said.
But first, Obama had some final business at the Group of Eight nations meeting in central Italy, where he has had mixed success in seeking accords on greenhouse gas emissions and other matters. He will meet with several African leaders early on Friday, then hold a news conference.
Next comes the audience with the pope, whose generally conservative views will not entirely mesh with Obama's. They are likely to discuss world poverty, the Middle East and other topics, aides say, but the visit will be largely personal and spiritual.
"There are issues on which they'll agree, issues on which they'll disagree and issues on which they'll agree to continue to work on going forward," White House national security adviser Denis McDonough told reporters on Thursday.
"Given the influence of the Catholic Church globally," he said, and "the influence of the Catholic Church and church social teaching on the president himself, he recognises that this is much more than your typical state visit".
- SAPA