Spicer Absent From Trump's Visit With Pope Francis

White House press secretary Sean Spicer did not attend President Donald Trump's meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday, but his absence was not evidence of a diminished status within the Trump administration as CNN suggested, The Hill reported.

"It is not surprising that gossip-obsessed outlets like CNN and Politico would rather fan another round of ridiculous palace intrigue stories to distract from the president's historic and extremely successful trip," a White House official told The Hill. "Frankly, it's pathetic and voters couldn't care less."

First lady Melania Trump, first daughter and special adviser to the president Ivanka Trump, senior adviser Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, economic adviser Gary Cohn, deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, State Department policy planner Brian Hook, national security adviser H.R. McMaster, security chief Keith Schiller and two members of Trump's communications team, longtime aide Hope Hicks, and social media director Dan Scavino traveled to the Apostolic Palace with Trump.

Spicer is a practicing Catholic who openly talks about his faith. But Kellyanne Conway, a senior counselor who is also Catholic, did not travel to Vatican City.

Reports in early May indicated Trump might be making a switch among his press corps after his communications team somewhat bungled the announcement of James Comey's firing.

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