Bush and Pope in Vatican talks
George Bush is on the Italian leg of his European tour
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Saturday, 09, Jun 2007 08:10
George Bush has met Pope Benedict XVI for the first time as his European tour continues.
The US president held talks with the Roman Catholic leader in the Vatican today amid tight-security in Rome.
The Italian government and the Pope himself have opposed the US-led war in Iraq, while demonstrators – many of whom will have protested at last week's G8 summit in Germany – were also expected to stage anti-American protests.
Organisers say more than 150,000 people marched through Rome in entirely peaceful demonstrations.
"It's good to be with you sir," Mr Bush told the pontiff as they sat at his private study desk.
When asked by Pope Benedict about the three-day meeting between G8 leaders, the president told him that it had been "successful", adding the summit had contained "a lot of different opinions… but it was good".
But when the Pope asked him whether his dialogue with Russian president Vladimir Putin had been constructive, Mr Bush replied "I'll tell you in a minute"; a reference to the journalists who were about to leave the study.
The Pope and the US president are united in their objection to abortion and euthanasia, but the Vatican has consistently opposed the Iraq war.
Mr Bush told Italian reporters ahead of today's talks that his intention was "mainly to listen" to the Pope.
The US president also met with prime minister Romano Prodi as part of the Italian leg of his European tour.
After talks with the Italian leader Mr Bush said he saw no reason for UN-administered Kosovo not to be granted full independence, despite opposition from Serbia and its main ally Russia.
Albania is the next stop for the US president, followed by Bulgaria.