U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, a Roman Catholic, and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal-designate Pietro Parolin met January 14 to discuss the Middle East, the Syrian conflict, the Sudan situation and religious freedom issues in the U.S. The meeting also included U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Ken Hackett and members of Kerry’s staff and members of the Roman Curia.
Father Frederico Lombardi, S.J. of the Vatican Press Office said the meeting was “very important” and “intensive.” He said “the encounter was extremely fruitful and rich in content… “It was a constructive encounter, an important one and the length of time it lasted is indicative of its underlying significance.”
Kerry was on a diplomatic tour to promote a peace accord between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The two also discussed the violence in Sudan, and U.S. religious liberty in relation to the regulations of the new health care law as well as President Obama’s efforts to combat poverty.
Protestant United States, with the help of Roman Catholic leaders, is stretching their hands across the gulf to fulfill the prophetic collaboration between the U.S. and the Vatican.
“The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.” Great Controversy, page 588