Meanwhile, Bill O'Reilly is shaking hands with the pope in Vatican City
![Pope Francis meets Bill O'Reilly.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u2JjnVP5oUDNeYXVqmzSsU-415-80.jpg)
As reports surfaced in the U.S. that Bill O'Reilly is on his way out at Fox News, the longtime talk show host was seen shaking hands with Pope Francis in Vatican City. O'Reilly, who has been vacationing in Italy for the past week amid allegations of sexual harassment, was photographed Wednesday morning in St. Peter's Square sitting in the VIP section of the pope's weekly general audience. While the event is open to the public, sitting in the special section near the papal throne requires special tickets from the prefecture of the papal household, The New York Times reported.
O'Reilly suggested on his show last year that he'd like to talk to the pope about his remark condemning President Trump's plans to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. It's not clear if O'Reilly got much of a chance to talk to the pope during their brief encounter Wednesday; the Vatican said last week that Francis has no plans to meet with O'Reilly during his visit to Italy.
New York's Gabriel Sherman reported Wednesday that the Murdoch family, which owns Fox News, has decided to fire O'Reilly after dozens of advertisers jumped ship amid reports that the network and O'Reilly have had to pay millions since 2002 to settle sexual harassment allegations made against the host.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Big Tech's answer for AI-driven job loss: universal basic income
In The Spotlight A new study reveals the strengths and limitations
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'I will not be silent' on Gaza, says Kamala Harris
Speed Read In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris supported Israel's right to defend itself while expressing a desire to end Palestinian suffering
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'How long can TikTok dominate as a social network?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published