Pope Francis was stung by a sexual abuse scandal in Chile, where the Church is losing sway and people are embracing social norms opposed by the Vatican.
The vice president's three-nation trip was supposed to happen in December. Pence wants to focus on security matters and the persecution of Christians, but he will also have to soothe allies.
President Trump is facing a Jan. 26 deadline to decide whether to impose tariffs on solar imports. While tariffs could help level the playing field for U.S. manfacturers, they could also raise prices.
When a fruit seller set himself on fire, it helped start a revolution in Tunisia seven years ago. Since then, the suicide method has grown more common, especially among young, unemployed men.
Vice President Mike Pence will be in Cairo Saturday. He and Egypt's president will talk about everything from fighting terrorism to protecting religious minorities.
Seven years ago a Tunisian fruit seller set himself on fire in protest. The uprisings he helped start have long faded but self-immolation has taken hold as an act of desperation among Tunisians.