Pelosi meets pope as abortion debate rages back home

Pope Francis welcomes U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as they meet at the Vatican, October 9, 2021. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis met on Saturday with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who has come under criticism from some bishops in the United States for her support for abortion rights.

Their meeting took place several weeks before Joe Biden is expected to meet the pope while the U.S. president is in Rome for talks between leaders of the Group of 20 major economies.