THE PM & THE POPE

Trudeau vs. Trump comparison

TRUMP’S VISIT

The Pope wore a dour expression when he posed for a photo with Donald Trump during the U.S. president’s 30-minute audience in the Apostolic Palace last week. But he broke into a smile when he shook First Lady Melania Trump’s hand and mischievously asked her if she feeds her husband “potica.” It charmed Melania and caused a run on the cake in her native Slovenia. No word on whether he asked for deliverance or forgiveness. Along with his wife, Trump was accompanied by daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and a dozen aides. However, he did not invite spokesman Sean Spicer, who had said a papal audience was on his “bucket list.”

One of the prominent gifts from the Pope to Trump was an autographed copy of his speech — “Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace” — which he gave to mark the 50th World Peace Day earlier this year. In it he said, “We find ourselves engaged in a horrifying world war fought piecemeal.” Trump gave the Pope a gold-embossed box set of Martin Luther King’s books, an engraved stone from the King Memorial in Washington and a bronze sculpture of a flowering lotus titled “Rising Above.”

TRUDEAU’S VISIT

His mood didn’t appear to have lightened by the time he stood next to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for an official photo on Monday during the 34-minute audience. But it’s not personal, according to veteran Vatican correspondent John Thavis. “He’s trying to avoid even the slightest hint of political support or endorsement,” Thavis said. Trudeau asked the pontiff to apologize for the role the Catholic Church played in the tragedy of Canada’s residential schools. The Pope seemed open to the idea, the PM reported.

As well as wife Sophie, Trudeau invited Dennis Savoie, Canada’s ambassador to the Vatican, and eight aides to meet the Pope. One of the prominent gifts from the Pope to Trudeau was an autographed copy of his speech — “Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace.” He also got a gold medal marking the fourth year of the Pope’s pontificate. In return, Trudeau gave the Pope “a rare edition” Montagnais-French dictionary written by a Jesuit missionary and copies of annual reports written by other Jesuits of their experiences in the New World in the 17th century.

Melania wore a black veil in accordance with Vatican protocol, her spokeswoman said in response to a question on why the first lady did not cover her head in Saudi Arabia two days earlier. “There was no request/requirement for her attire in Saudi,” she said. Ivanka, whose head was also bare in the Middle East, wore a more modest veil.

Sophie GrégoireTrudeau wore a lace-trimmed black hat.