Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Vatican Nixes Live Broadcast of Biden Greeting Pope Friday
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 years ago on
October 28, 2021

Share

ROME — The Vatican on Thursday abruptly canceled the planned live broadcast of U.S. President Joe Biden meeting Pope Francis on Friday, the latest restriction to media coverage of the Holy See.

The live broadcast of Biden’s visit was trimmed to cover just the arrival of the president’s motorcade in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the revised plan reflected the “normal procedure” established during the coronavirus pandemic for all visiting heads of state or government.

Cancelled was the live coverage of Biden actually greeting Francis in the palace Throne Room, as well as the live footage of the two men sitting down to begin their private talks in Francis’ library, at which time the cameras would have stopped running.

Vatican Says It will Release Edited Footage

The Vatican said it would provide edited footage of the encounter after the fact to accredited media, as it provides for other visiting heads of state. Bruni didn’t say why the Vatican had originally announced fuller live coverage only to dial it back on the eve of the visit.

Biden, the second Catholic U.S. president, has met Francis three previous times, but this will be his first as president.

The audience was being closely monitored since U.S. bishops are due to meet in a few weeks for their annual fall convention, with one of the agenda items inspired by conservatives who contend that Biden’s support for abortion rights should disqualify him from receiving Communion. Though any document that emerges from the bishops’ conference is not expected to mention Biden by name, it’s possible there could be a clear message of rebuke.

Francis has strongly upheld the church’s opposition to abortion, calling it “murder.” But he has said bishops should be pastors, not politicians.

Vatican has Previously Allowed Live Coverage

The Vatican has provided live television coverage for the visits of major heads of state for years, including President Donald Trump, and had scheduled such coverage Friday for Biden and for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is also in Rome for a Group of 20 meeting.

A live broadcast was particularly important because the Vatican hasn’t allowed independent photographers and journalists into papal audiences with visiting leaders since the start of the pandemic. The Vatican has continued to cite the pandemic as a reason to deny external news media access to the beginnings and ends of papal audiences with leaders, even though they are allowed into other papal events.

It is during those moments in the pope’s library that reporters can view the gifts that are exchanged, watch as the formal photograph is taken and overhear remarks as the leaders arrive and depart to get a sense of how visit is going. Only the pope’s official photographer and Vatican video journalists are now allowed in.

News Agencies Protest Restrictions

The Vatican correspondents’ association has protested the cancellation of such pool access and several media outlets, including The Associated Press, formally complained about Thursday’s cut of the live Biden-pope broadcast and asked for an explanation.

The head of the White House Correspondent’s Association, Steven Portnoy of CBS News Radio, expressed disappointment at the lack of live coverage as well as the absence of independent media access. Biden is travelling with his own pool of reporters who would normally be allowed into the pope’s library for the beginning and end of the audience alongside reporters accredited to the Vatican.

In a series of tweets, Portnoy noted that the White House travelling pool was fully vaccinated and that such a substantial meeting between a Catholic president and the head of the 1.3-billion strong Catholic Church “demands independent coverage.”

The White House spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, was asked about the limited media access to Biden’s audience and said the administration was “working through every lever we have” to get more access.

“We believe in the value of the free press. We believe in the value of ensuring you have access to the president’s trips and his visits overseas,” Psaki said during a White House briefing.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

DON'T MISS

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

DON'T MISS

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

DON'T MISS

Dak Prescott Likely out 4+ Games as Cowboys Place QB on IR With Hamstring Injury

DON'T MISS

Tropical Storm Rafael Chugs Past Jamaica as Cuba Prepares for Another Hurricane Hit

DON'T MISS

The Latest: Trump and Harris Cede Stage to Voters Who’ll Also Decide Control of House and Senate

DON'T MISS

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rallies on Election Day as Economy Remains Solid

DON'T MISS

When Polls Close in Battleground States on Election Day

DON'T MISS

Jason Kelce Apologizes for Fan Confrontation, Vows to ‘Treat People With Respect’

DON'T MISS

Curry’s Return Ignites Warriors in Victory Over Wizards

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

UP NEXT

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

UP NEXT

Dak Prescott Likely out 4+ Games as Cowboys Place QB on IR With Hamstring Injury

UP NEXT

Tropical Storm Rafael Chugs Past Jamaica as Cuba Prepares for Another Hurricane Hit

UP NEXT

The Latest: Trump and Harris Cede Stage to Voters Who’ll Also Decide Control of House and Senate

UP NEXT

When Polls Close in Battleground States on Election Day

UP NEXT

Jason Kelce Apologizes for Fan Confrontation, Vows to ‘Treat People With Respect’

UP NEXT

Curry’s Return Ignites Warriors in Victory Over Wizards

UP NEXT

Could This Presidential Election Be Decided by the Supreme Court?

UP NEXT

Former Fresno Businessman Todd Mumma Sentenced to 21 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Dak Prescott Likely out 4+ Games as Cowboys Place QB on IR With Hamstring Injury

17 mins ago

Tropical Storm Rafael Chugs Past Jamaica as Cuba Prepares for Another Hurricane Hit

17 mins ago

The Latest: Trump and Harris Cede Stage to Voters Who’ll Also Decide Control of House and Senate

22 mins ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rallies on Election Day as Economy Remains Solid

31 mins ago

When Polls Close in Battleground States on Election Day

39 mins ago

Jason Kelce Apologizes for Fan Confrontation, Vows to ‘Treat People With Respect’

49 mins ago

Curry’s Return Ignites Warriors in Victory Over Wizards

1 hour ago

Could This Presidential Election Be Decided by the Supreme Court?

1 hour ago

Former Fresno Businessman Todd Mumma Sentenced to 21 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

1 hour ago

A Kamala Harris Quiz for Election Day

5 hours ago

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian troops have for the first time engaged with North Korean units that were recently deployed to help Russia in the w...

1 min ago

1 min ago

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

8 mins ago

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

9 mins ago

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

17 mins ago

Dak Prescott Likely out 4+ Games as Cowboys Place QB on IR With Hamstring Injury

17 mins ago

Tropical Storm Rafael Chugs Past Jamaica as Cuba Prepares for Another Hurricane Hit

22 mins ago

The Latest: Trump and Harris Cede Stage to Voters Who’ll Also Decide Control of House and Senate

31 mins ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rallies on Election Day as Economy Remains Solid

39 mins ago

When Polls Close in Battleground States on Election Day

Search

Send this to a friend