Pope Francis Gives Obama the ‘Dragon & Angel of Peace’

March 28 2014

Very symbolic gifts that were exchanged!! Carrots?? obama gave the pope carrot seeds?! As-in the “carrot and stick” approach (also “carrot or stick approach”) is an idiom that refers to a policy of offering a combination of rewards and punishment to induce behavior. It is named in reference to a cart driver dangling a carrot in front of a mule and holding a stick behind it. The mule would move towards the carrot because it wants the reward of food, while also moving away from the stick behind it, since it does not want the punishment of pain, thus drawing the cart. 

The idiom is used in the field of International Relations to describe the realist concept of ‘hard power‘. The carrot can stand for tax cuts or other benefits, the stick can stand for the use of (psychological) violence and threats by the government.

Folks, this is just mind-blowing. “Often times, in these type of diplomatic meetings, gifts can be also be a way to portray a message”, a quote from the Rome Report.

Also exchanged from the pope included a large bronze medallion of an angel representing solidarity and peace. The angel is “embracing and bringing together the northern and southern hemispheres of the earth, while overcoming the opposition of a dragon,” the Vatican said.

However, Pope Francis specified that the gift was actually a personal gesture from him, “from Jorge Bergoglio. When I saw it, I said: ‘I’ll give it to Obama; it’s the angel of peace,” he told the U.S. president.

The other medal, which the pope said, “is from the pope,” is a replica of a 17th-century medallion commemorating the laying of the first stone of Bernini’s colonnade in St. Peter’s Square.

“This gift is from the Pope. But this other one is from Jorge Bergoglio.  When I saw it,  I said: “I’ll give to Obama, it’s the Angel of Peace.”

The symbolism of the pope’s gift is explained in the following video.

Are you prepared?