The meeting comes in the midst of an ongoing national crisis in Venezuela marked by daily protests that have lasted more than 70 days and by acts of repression from the forces of President Maduro’s government.

Pope Francis celebrated Pentecost Mass, urging Christians to avoid "diversity without unity" and "unity without diversity."

Vatican officials slammed it as “a disaster for the whole world because the United States has such importance today and is a country that many follow.”

The attack in central Egypt today killed at least 26 people, including children aged 2 to 4, and wounded 25 others.

Media reports that the meeting was “cold” are “a gross misinterpretation,” a Vatican source told America.

Vatican leaders seem quietly confident that the meeting will go well.