Pope Francis Meets With Bill Clinton and Alex Soros at the Vatican

Pope Francis met Wednesday with former US President Bill Clinton, along with a delegation, at the Pope's residence at the Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jMOSfP0RuN

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) July 5, 2023

[Bill] Clinton's delegation included several prominent Americans, including Alex Soros of the Open Society Foundations.

Clinton, who now focuses his efforts on philanthropy and public affairs, had visited Albania July 3-4 and received from the Albanian prime minister a public gratitude medal for his support of Albania and for NATO's intervention in the Kosovo War, the news site Euractiv reports.

Soros, son of the billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros, accompanied Clinton in both Albania and at the Vatican. Soros is the new chairman of the Open Society Foundations, a philanthropic giant which his father founded.

The pope presented Clinton with a statue of a woman holding a dove. The pontiff said it represents "a work for peace."

Clinton gave Pope Francis "a little tray with the symbol of the United States on it," according to a video posted to Twitter by Vatican News. Clinton's office told CNA that the gift was a personalized porcelain tray bearing the presidential seal. The former president also wrote a personal note to the pontiff.

The Holy See Press Office in a July 5 email described the gathering as a "private audience" with President Bill Clinton and his delegation. It provided photos but no other information.

Clinton thanked Pope Francis for all he has done for the Church and the world, Clinton's office told CNA.

[...] As CNA previously reported, Open Society Foundations and its aligned groups have funded efforts to legalize abortion in Ireland, Poland, Mexico and other traditionally Catholic countries. The Soros network has also funded efforts to change the political priorities of American Catholics and to pass strongly pro-abortion legislation, such as a Michigan ballot measure to declare abortion a constitutional right.