Side Trip to Rome

"One of the most moving experiences I've ever had," said a glowing Nancy Reagan. Tastefully attired in black, the First Lady had just emerged from a private audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican last Saturday. "I've met him twice before," she noted, "but this is the first time I've seen him alone." Earlier, the First Lady had spoken of the "extra affinity" she felt with the Pope since both he and President Reagan had survived assassination attempts in the spring of 1981. She spent 25 minutes chatting with the Pontiff in his library. After the talk, the Pope greeted 15 members of Mrs. Reagan's entourage, including her personal maid and hairdresser. The Pope and the First Lady exchanged gifts before he bade her farewell, saying "God bless you, and thank you very much for your visit."

The side trip to Rome was designed to let Mrs. Reagan pursue her antidrug crusade while her husband was busy at the economic summit. On Friday afternoon she visited a rehabilitation clinic in the Alban Hills and heard residents recount their fall into heroin addiction. That night she dined at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Maxwell Rabb with 60 of Rome's glitterati (Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Federico Fellini, Valentino).

Her war on drugs was a main topic of discussion at a state dinner on Thursday night near Bonn. Later, President Reagan told staffers, "Never have I seen my summit partners as united on a single subject." On returning to Bonn, the First Lady was delighted to hear of her influence at the summit. When asked what she had got out of her conversation with the Pontiff, she replied, "Encouragement. From the Pope, you can't ask for more than that."