20:53 13/03/2007

VATICAN, March 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the Vatican Tuesday for his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.

The meeting is expected to help improve relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which have been strained over the Russian Orthodox Church accusing the Vatican of trying to spread the influence of Catholicism.

Putin twice met with Pope John Paul II, Benedict XVI's predecessor, who was elected Pope in April 2005.

Putin, currently on a working visit to Italy, earlier met with Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano, and will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Romano Prodi Wednesday.

Add to blog
Send to friend
Share

Add to blog

You may place this material on your blog by copying the link.

Publication code:

<div style="border:1px solid #d3d3d3; padding:17px 0 0px 17px; background:#ffffff; width:510px;"><div style="width:100%; overflow:hidden;"><a target="_blank" href="http://en.rian.ru/world/20070313/61946567.html" style="text-decoration:none;"><img src="http://en.rian.ru/i/eng/logo_sml.gif" alt="RIA Novosti" title="RIA Novosti" style="float:left; margin-right:10px;" border="0" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://en.rian.ru/world/20070313/61946567.html" style="color:#000000;text-decoration:none;display: block; margin: 0 10px 0 0 ;"><strong style="font:19px Georgia,Arial,sans-serif; line-height:16px; font-weight:bold;">Putin arrives for first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI</strong></a><p style="font:13px Georgia,Arial,sans-serif; padding:5px 10px 0px 0;"><span style="color:#5590bf;">20:53</span> <span style="color:#5590bf; padding-right:7px;">13/03/2007</span> <span style="font-size:12px;">Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the Vatican Tuesday for his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. The meeting is expected to help improve relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which have been strained over the Russian Orthodox Church accusing the Vatican of trying to spread the influence of Catholicism. <a target="_blank" style="color:#335f86; padding-left:10px; text-decoration:underline;" href="http://en.rian.ru/world/20070313/61946567.html" title="Putin arrives for first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI">>></a></span></p><div style="padding:6px 0 15px 30px; font:10px Verdana,sans-serif;"><a target="_blank" style="color:#114472; text-decoration:underline;" href="http://en.rian.ru" title="RIA Novosti">Other news of the day</a></div></div></div>

Preview:

Putin arrives for first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI

20:53 13/03/2007 Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the Vatican Tuesday for his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. The meeting is expected to help improve relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which have been strained over the Russian Orthodox Church accusing the Vatican of trying to spread the influence of Catholicism. >>

Other news of the day