As Pope Makes G-7 Debut, Abortion Vanishes From Communique.

Pope Francis attended the annual Group of Seven (G-7) summit, becoming the first pontiff to do so. The presence of the leader of the Catholic Church added a religious dimension to the typically geopolitical gathering. Italy, as the host, faced criticism for attempting to dilute references to abortion and LGBTQ rights in the summit's communique. The Pope's formal role at the summit was to participate in discussions on regulating artificial intelligence, a topic he has expressed concerns about. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, known for upholding traditional values, has courted the Pope's favor on issues such as encouraging Italians to have more children and denying LGBTQ people equal rights. The draft of the communique indicates that references to abortion have been removed, and protections for LGBTQ people have been diluted. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed regret over the omission of the abortion reference. Pope Francis has been known to make controversial statements, including derogatory remarks about LGBTQ individuals, which has strained his relationship with the LGBTQ community. However, he has maintained a generally positive relationship with US President Joe Biden, despite their differences on issues like abortion. [Extracted from the article]