Pope Scolds Pelosi on Abortion

Pope Benedict didn't beat around the bush in his short meeting with Nancy Pelosi today. He lectured the Catholic House speaker about her liberal views on abortion and assisted suicide, the Vatican says. Pelosi's aides, however, focused on brighter moments: She showed the pontiff photos of her grandkids and discussed poverty and global warming with him, they tell CNN.

"His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death," said a Vatican statement. Benedict told Pelosi that Catholic legislators had a special responsibility on the matter. As for the competing recaps: "They chose to highlight different parts of the meeting," said Pelosi's team. (More Nancy Pelosi stories.)