Russian President Vladimir Putin on
Thursday arrived in Rome for a one-day visit to the Italian
capital.
His first appointment was at the Vatican where he saw Pope
Francis.
Later in the day he saw President Sergio Mattarella at the
presidential palace and in the afternoon he will see Premier
Giuseppe Conte at the premier's office.
This evening there will be a dinner at Villa Madama with
deputy premiers Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini.
Finally, Putin will have a private meeting with Silvio
Berlusconi.
Putin was accompanied by Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov as
well as the trade, energy, culture and health ministers.
Putin arrived in the Vatican for an audience with Pope
Francis, his third.
The previous ones were on November 25 2013 and June 10, 2015.
Putin has had six audiences with three popes in 19 years.
Putin was welcomed to the Vatican by Pope Francis with
a warm handshake.
Putin said on leaving Francis "thank you for the time you
devoted to me and for the very substantial and interesting
talks" while Francis told him "pray for me".
After presenting his delegation and exchanging gifts with the
pope, Putin and his entourage also had talks with Secretary of
State Pietro Parolin and Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher,
secretary for relations with States.
He then left the Vatican for the Quirinal Palace where he was
met by Mattarella.
Putin was over an hour behind schedule, which is nothing new
for the Russian president.
In the past he has kept US President Donald Trump, German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Queen Elizabeth of England waiting
for some time.
However he recently arrived 30 minutes early for talks with
North Korean President Kim Jong-un.
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