White House expects ‘frank’ talks between Obama, pope
Jul 8 01:50 PM US/Eastern

US President Barack Obama’s talks with Pope Benedict XVI will be “frank” but constructive in areas of disagreement such as abortion, the White House said Wednesday.

“I think there will be a frank discussion,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said aboard Air Force One en route to Italy where Obama is attending the Group of Eight summit that opened Wednesday.

Obama and the pope are to meet Friday after the summit.