(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 08.18.2024).- In an unexpected meeting, Pope Francis welcomed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to Casa Santa Marta for a private audience. Bezos, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals with a fortune estimated to exceed $200 billion, was accompanied by his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. The visit, unannounced by the Vatican and kept off the official agenda, has sparked curiosity and speculation about the topics discussed.
Lauren Sánchez offered a glimpse into the meeting through her social media, expressing the couple’s deep honor at being received by the Pontiff. She described the encounter as profoundly moving, highlighting Pope Francis’ wisdom, warmth, and humor. Alongside her post, Sánchez shared photos capturing the special moment.
According to Sánchez, one of the key subjects of discussion was the urgent need for climate action—a cause close to both Bezos and the Pope. Bezos, who launched the Bezos Earth Fund in 2020 with a $10 billion commitment to combating climate change, found a shared passion in the Pope’s environmental advocacy. The couple noted that Pope Francis expressed his appreciation for the work of the Bezos Earth Fund, which left a significant impression on them.
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Beyond environmental concerns, the conversation also touched on more personal and philosophical topics. Sánchez recounted how they discussed the importance of maintaining a sense of humor and not taking life too seriously. She particularly admired the Pope’s encouragement for priests to engage with poetry and literature, a practice he emphasized in a letter to seminarians, underscoring its value in nurturing the human spirit.
While the Vatican has remained silent on the details of this private meeting, the encounter between the leader of the Catholic Church and one of the most influential figures in global business hints at a convergence of interests that go beyond their usual realms—bringing together faith, philanthropy, and a shared commitment to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.
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