NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN CITY (CWNews.com) - The Vatican and the White House both announced on Wednesday that President Bill Clinton will have a private meeting with Pope John Paul II in January during the Holy Father's visit to the St. Louis.

      The Pontiff, during his trip January 22-28, will first visit Mexico City where he will officially receive the results of the Synod for the Americas which took place last year and will journey to St. Louis on January 26.

      After meeting with Clinton at an Air National Guard hangar at the St. Louis airport, the Holy Father will speak with sick children from Cardinal Glennon's Children's Hospital, and the next day will deliver a homily at a morning Mass at St. Louis' Trans-World Dome. He heads home to Rome later that evening on an overnight flight.