U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Francis met for the first time at the Vatican on Wednesday.
Trump appeared upbeat and smiling for the cameras throughout most of the 30-minute get-together that was also attended by his wife, first lady Melania Trump, as well his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Pope, on the other hand, appeared much less enthused.
According to the White House pool report of the event, the mood in the room appeared “stiff” and the Pope was “rather stone-faced,” but “lightened considerably” during a gift exchange between the two men.
On social media, however, attention focused on an Associated Press photo that shows a beaming Trump posing for a group photo with an unsmiling Pope Francis and a sombre-looking Melania, Ivanka and Kushner.
The Pope has met Donald Trump... Think this AP picture just about sums it up pic.twitter.com/0E96npzQJa
— Louise Burke (@Louiseontwitr) May 24, 2017
Who died? Oh yes. DEMOCRACY. pic.twitter.com/pCxkgtSktd
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 24, 2017
— Simon Hendriksen (@SimonHendriksen) May 24, 2017
The Addams Family reboot looks rubbish. pic.twitter.com/L9MWhmnY5c
— Richard Littler (@richard_littler) May 24, 2017
Pope's Faith 'Shaken' After God Fails To Smite Trump At Vatican pic.twitter.com/IS4ZDjoWnQ
— Mallow News (@MallowNews) May 24, 2017
@Louiseontwitr biggest mood of 2017, honestly pic.twitter.com/D7eWOclK8F
— Whitney Thompson (@klahom) May 24, 2017
How did things go at the Vatican?
— Yashar (@yashar) May 24, 2017
Ivanka and Melania: "No Comment"
Trump: "Terrific, The Best!"
The Pope: "God Help Me...Literally" pic.twitter.com/Q6qwOyAsKs
Pope's face when he found out he has to hear Trump's confession. pic.twitter.com/2fDvKz5v1N
— Darth Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) May 24, 2017
Trump nevertheless tweeted that the encounter with Pope Francis was an “honor of a lifetime” while the Vatican described the discussions as “cordial” and said that “satisfaction was expressed” for good relations between the Holy See and the United States during the talks.
