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AFP
VATICAN
DONALD Trump vowed on Wednesday to use his US presidency to promote peace around the world after what he depicted as an inspirational meeting with Pope Francis.
Meeting face-to-face for the first time, the two leaders sidestepped profound differences over a string of issues ranging from the environment to the plight of migrants and the poor.
And the US President emerged from a half-hour meeting at the Vatican gushing with enthusiasm about the 80-year-old pontiff, to the point of the former TV star appearing slightly star-struck.
"Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis," Trump wrote on Twitter before leaving Rome for Brussels and the next leg of his first overseas trip as president.
"I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world."
The declaration of intent followed a keenly-anticipated encounter between the billionaire businessman and the former Jesuit priest who has made championing the poor and the third world major themes of his papacy.
In their world view and tastes, the Argentine pontiff who eschews the use of the palaces at his disposal and the luxury hotel tycoon appear worlds apart. But if there was any friction when they finally met, it occurred behind closed doors. In front of the cameras, both men were mostly all smiles, relaxed and even jovial.
"He is something," Trump later said of his host."We had a fantastic meeting."
The Vatican described the discussions as"cordial" and emphasised the two men's joint opposition to abortion and shared concern for persecuted Christians in the Middle East.
Trump told his host as he left,"Thank you. Thank you. I won't forget what you said."
The pope had presented Trump with a medallion engraved with an olive tree, the international symbol of peace.
"I give it to you so you can be an instrument of peace," he said in Spanish."We can use peace," Trump replied.
Trump's gifts included a collection of first editions by Martin Luther King and a bronze sculpture.
Francis gave Trump copies of the three major texts he has published as pope, including one on the environment which urges the industrialised world to curb carbon emissions or risk catastrophic consequences for the planet.
