His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life.

ROME (Catholic Online) - Following the much anticipated event of the Speaker of the House, Senator Nancy Pelosi, meeting with the Holy Father, the Vatican issued the release set forth below in both English and Italian. The release was first posted, Stateside, by Rocco Palmo at "Whispers in the Loggia". Now, all major news sources have picked up this important story.

The Speaker's office released a statement later on Wednesday concerning this meeting. It is set forth in full after the Vatican's initial statement. The Holy See's statement was issued immediately after the meeting.

When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States the Speaker of the House was pleased to greet him and use the public gesture of kissing his ring, a sign of respect for his Petrine office. She has regularly called herself an "ardent Catholic". Yet her position on the fundamental human rights issue of our age, the right to life from conception to natural death and at every age and stage, is often in direct opposition to the truths revelealed by the Natural Law and the infallible teaching of her own Church.

Catholic Online will be following all the developments surrounding this story throughout the day.

Vatican Statement

"Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage.

"His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development." (emphasis added)

Later on Wednesday the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, released her own statement. As one can see, it is quite a different recounting of this important meeting:

Speaker Pelosi Statement

"It is with great joy that my husband, Paul, and I met with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today.

"In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the church’s leadership in fighting poverty, hunger and global warming, as well as the Holy Father’s dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel.

"I was proud to show His Holiness a photograph of my family’s papal visit in the 1950s, as well as a recent picture of our children and grandchildren.”