US Presidential Candidate Sanders to Visit Vatican City

US Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders is to pay visit to Vatican City in mid-April in honour to Pope Francis, the candidate’s campaign office said in a statement on Friday.

NEW YORK (Sputnik) — US Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders will attend a high-level meeting in Vatican City on April 15, the candidate’s campaign office said in a statement on Friday.

"US Sen. Bernie Sanders on Friday accepted an invitation from the Vatican to attend a conference hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences on social, economic and environmental issues," the statement said.

Sanders’ campaign has long advocated for social and economic reforms and said the meeting will focus on "restoring social justice and environmental sustainability to the world economy."

"Pope Francis has made clear that we must overcome ‘the globalization of indifference’ in order to reduce economic inequalities, stop financial corruption and protect the natural environment," Sanders added.

The meeting will take place just days before the April 19 Democratic primary in New York State. According to a March 31 Quinnipiac University Poll, Sanders trails democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton by a 54-42 percent margin amongst New York democratic voters.