Pope Francis says he'll be "sincere" with US President Donald Trump over their sharp differences on subjects such as immigration and climate change when the two hold their first meeting at the Vatican later this month.
But the Pope also told reporters aboard a plane returning from Portugal on Saturday that he would keep an open mind and not pass judgement on Mr Trump until first listening to his views at their meeting on May 24.
"Even if one thinks differently we have to be very sincere about what each one thinks," Pope Francis said, adding he hoped to find "an at least partly open door" for dialogue with Mr Trump so that they could contribute to the cause of world peace.
Pope Francis said proselytising isn't his style - in politics or religion.
Last year, in response to an answer about then-candidate Mr Trump's views on immigration and his intention to build a wall along the US border with Mexico, Pope Francis said a man with such views was "not Christian".
Mr Trump and the Pope also disagree strongly about climate change. Mr Trump signed an executive order dismantling Obama-era environmental legislation.
Pope Francis has made defence of the environment a key plank of his papacy, strongly backing scientific opinion that global warming is caused mostly by human activity.
The Pope's comments come after a life-size mural depicting Pope Francis with a saintly halo kissing Mr Trump sprouting devil's horns appeared on a wall near the Vatican.
