Colwell: After 'amazing privilege' at the Vatican, Joe Donnelly coming home

Timing was bad for my call to the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. Actually, for me, the timing of the call to the familiar cell number for Joe Donnelly was fortuitous.

Donnelly, former senator from Granger and ambassador to the Vatican since early in 2022, said he was then at the Group of Seven summit in Apulia, Italy.

When I asked if Pope Francis and President Biden would meet as reported, he said it was just about to happen.

“They’re pulling me by the arm,” he said. “I’ve got to go prep him.”

Bad timing for lengthier conversation, but bringing a promise of details later.

Donnelly recounted in a later call that he was present during the meeting of about a half hour between president and pope.

While he could not disclose direct quotes from the private talks, Donnelly said Francis and Biden were in complete agreement on need for an immediate cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza and humanitarian help for Ukrainian war victims, especially children kidnapped to Russia.

The ambassador described the meeting as convivial, and not just because of agreement on crucial issues and shared Catholic faith.

“They are also good friends,” Donnelly said. “They enjoyed seeing each other again.”

So, how was his “prep” for the president? That’s the traditional briefing of a president on issues likely to arise in an upcoming meeting.

“He already knew everything in advance,” Donnelly said. “He is incredibly on top of all the issues.”

That’s not the portrayal on some pro-Trump media, where Biden was shown as though wandering off aimlessly when at the G7 summit. He actually turned to give thumbs-up congratulations to skydivers who landed as part of the ceremony. The selected camera angle left skydivers out of the picture.

“He’s as sharp today as at any point I’ve known him,” Donnelly said.

While in Congress, Donnelly worked closely with Biden, then vice president, on the successful effort to save Chrysler jobs in Kokomo and on the final compromise for passage of the Affordable Care Act.

Donnelly will leave as ambassador on July 8. The timing will allow him to host the traditional July 4 celebration that is a major event at all U.S. embassies around the world.

“I wanted to be there to say thanks for all the kindness shown to me,” Donnelly said.

Then what?

“I’m coming home to Granger,” he said. If he has something else in mind, he doesn’t say, can’t say. Federal regulations prohibit an ambassador from accepting any other endeavor before service to the country is completed.

“It was an amazing privilege to serve the country and the president,” Donnelly said. No doubt the post at the Vatican was especially significant for Donnelly as an Irish Catholic with two degrees from Notre Dame, undergrad and law.

Donnelly said the ambassadorship deals with matters on a government-to-government basis with the Vatican and is not involved with church issues.

He said he had “wonderful relations” with the pope. While Francis has mobility issues, Donnelly described him as otherwise in good health, very charismatic and with a love for laughter.

In fact, before flying to the G7 site to speak to the world leaders about dangers and opportunities of artificial intelligence, the pope hosted a Vatican celebration of the importance of humor, welcoming more than 100 comedians from 15 countries. Among them were Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien and Whoopi Goldberg.

Recently, Donnelly said, “I was going to meet with the Holy Father, and an aide said, ‘Don’t be surprised, he’s meeting with Whoopi Goldberg.’”

Donnelly said he had a nice chat with her.

Now, Donnelly said, he looks forward to getting back to Granger and his family and an opportunity just to stop at a local place for coffee. He could run into local characters there, but not a president, a pope or Whoopi Goldberg.

Jack Colwell is a columnist for The Tribune. Write to him in care of The Tribune or by email at jcolwell@comcast.net.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Joe Donnelly coming home after Vatican post