WASHINGTON (AP) – The Latest on Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ trip to Rome to speak the Vatican conference on social and economic justice (all times Eastern Daylight Time):
8:50 a.m.
Pope Francis has met with at least one participant of the Vatican conference on social and economic justice that Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is attending: Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Morales met for about a half-hour Friday morning with Francis before heading into the conference. Morales once again raised eyebrows with an unusual gift for the pontiff: three books about the health benefits of the coca leaf, the raw ingredient for cocaine.
The Vatican has said Francis has no plans to meet with conference participants or with Sanders.
He has a longstanding friendship with Morales, however, and visited him in Bolivia last summer. Morales sparked a minor diplomatic incident during the visit when he gave the pope a crucifix fashioned as a communist-style hammer and sickle. Francis said he wasn’t offended.
Coca leaf is widely chewed in the Andes to fight against altitude sickness and as a mild stimulant.
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3:00 a.m.
The Vatican conference drawing Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders away from the campaign for New York delegates is steeped in his lifelong passions of economic and social justice and reflects his admiration for Pope Francis.
Sanders departed New York for Rome after Thursday night’s debate with front-running rival Hillary Clinton. The self-described democratic socialist will join several speakers commemorating a high-level teaching document by Pope John Paul II on the economy and social justice at the end of the Cold War.
The Vermont senator is joined by his wife, Jane, and 10 family members, including four grandchildren. His spokesman said Sanders was still working on a draft of his speech on the plane.
The roughly 24-hour break from the campaign comes just five days before the New York primary.