via Robert Mugabe meets Pope Francis at sainthood ceremony in Rome – Telegraph 27 Apr 2014
The Zimbabwean president is allowed to meet the Pontiff as EU travel ban does not apply to the Vatican
Pope Francis meets Mugabe and his wife Grace after the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peter’s at the Vatican
Photo: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Francis met Robert Mugabe on Sunday during a ceremony in Rome to make saints of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II
The ageing Zimbabwean president, who was with his wife Grace, was among a number of heads of state to attend the ceremony. He is barred from entering the European Union because of alleged human rights abuses and vote rigging at home, but the ban does not apply to Vatican City, which is not a member of the EU.
President Mugabe, who describes himself as a committed Catholic, also attended Pope Francis’s inaugural Mass last year, following his election by cardinals in the secret conclave held in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. He also came to Rome for Pope John Paul’s funeral in 2005 and for his beatification in 2011.
Last year, the EU suspended sanctions against 81 officials and eight firms in Zimbabwe, following what it described as a “peaceful” referendum on a new constitution. However, sanctions remain in place against Mr Mugabe himself, partly at Britain’s insistence.
COMMENTS
The picture is a true depiction of a dictator . It would not surprise to find he cut a lonely figure.
Pillagers
Devil meets his opposition ?
How come he wasn’t wearing the mapostori garb that he sometimes wears at rallies.
How did he get there? Why do the countries he has to travel through permit it?
Toothless.
So the Roman Catholic Church has no problem shaking hands with the devil and his she devil. It was the Roman Catholic Commission that investigated the genocide that was the Gukurahundi then the head of that church welcomes the man that ordered it. What the hell is going on? The world, or perhaps that church, have gone mad. What does the church think of the holocast? Perhaps the architects of that would be welcome at the Vatican if they still lived.
Men Bona, your reaction is exactly the same reaction that the people of old time jdged Jesus when he sat on the table with wicked people, and can you remember what he answered them…. “it is the sick who needs Dr’s attention…” remember that I am not denying that Mugabe acted in selfish way some days, but I am saying, do you know what the church teach about forgiveness and loving everyone including your enemies… unless if you are not a christian, and if your not, you rather not comment as you dont understan its doctrines
This is the cherry on top of the stinking Catholic Child Abuse industry cake. The reason why I no longer practice as a Catholic.
My imagination or is this an old pic? They both look younger than normal.
Pfutseki! It’s called freedom of association. Why shout at people of god.
Has Bob and Disgrace come back both being cannonised as Saints!!???
Which people of god are you talking about? Mugabe sanctioned mass murder of thousands of innocent civilians and to this day has not bothered to say sorry, if anything he looks the other way while his disciples prevent relatives of those slaughtered from giving them a decent burial. People were killed at his instigation and some supporters of opposition parties have suffered the same fate with his full knowledge.
Just to crown it all, being a catholic myself it bothers me to see this devil incarnate, a wolf in sheep’s cloths stand up to be counted as part of the flock. However I am just an immortal sinner and I am sure he is making peace with his god.
Mugabe took someone’s wife and fathered children with her while his own wife was dying. I am sure there may be a dispensation for African leaders when it comes to peace of the soul since they argue that it was because of colonization and any sins committed should be forgiven.
It (Mugabe) is convinced that it can cheat god. It has gotten away with so much on this planet and it is very much convinced that it will out wit the creator (hameno regai chimboidza).