Pope thanks President Bush for defence of 'moral values'

Rome (ENI). Pope Benedict XVI received President George W. Bush, not at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, but in the Vatican Gardens' Tower of St John, a rare move interpreted by some media as papal agreement with the views of the US leader on bioethics and abortion. The Vatican, however, said in a statement after the 13 June meeting the "special protocol" was to respond to the cordiality of the welcome received by Pope Benedict during his April visit to the United States. [366 words, ENI-08-0469]

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