Pope Benedict told US President George W. Bush today that the Vatican would like a "regional and negotiated" solution to Middle East conflicts, as anti-US protesters converged on Rome.
Bush meets with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican today
Mr Bush told the pontiff, in what was their first meeting, that he believed the Group of Eight summit in Germany had been a success, and made a conspiratorial quip in front of the media about his dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"It's good to be with you sir," Mr Bush said as he sat before the pontiff's private desk in the Vatican. Both men appeared relaxed, smiling and sometimes laughing.
When the Pope mentioned Mr Bush had come from the world powers' summit, Mr Bush said: "I did - your old country - and it was successful ... A lot of different opinions, but it was good."
Asked if his dialogue with Mr Putin - closely watched because of a number of sharp disagreements between Russia and the West - had been good, Mr Bush responded with a smile as reporters were being ushered out of the room.
"I'll tell you in a minute," he said. The Vatican said in a statement that Benedict and Mr Bush had discussed the Middle East and the Holy See's "hope for a regional and negotiated solution to the conflicts that afflict that region".
Mr Bush also told the Pope in front of reporters about what he called "the very strong AIDS initiative" at the G8.
The Group of Eight world powers pledged $60 billion to fight diseases ravaging Africa - although much of the sum was made up of existing pledges.
Mr Bush and the pontiff see eye-to-eye on ethical issues such as abortion and euthanasia but are divided over the war in Iraq, which Benedict's predecessor, John Paul, tried hard to avert.
Mr Bush told an Italian newspaper last week that his intention was "mainly to listen" to the Pope. Mr Bush also said he would be eager to discuss changes in China and the future of post-Castro Cuba if the Pope wanted.
Mr Bush and his wife Laura, who was wearing a black outfit and veil, took a more circuitous route to the Vatican than usual, which disappointed thousands waiting to see him. It was not clear if this was for security reasons, although 10,000 police were deployed as a precaution in central Rome.
Protesters opposed to the war in Iraq and the expansion of a US military base in northern Italy took trains to Rome for mass protests likely to echo those at the G8.
Many who elected Prime Minister Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition - which is critical of US foreign policy - as well as some of Mr Prodi's own members of parliament were set to join the rallies, which organisers promised would be peaceful. "Bush is the biggest international terrorist.
It's a disgrace the Italian government elected by the votes of pacifists should invite him to this country," said Elio Luppoli, arriving in Rome with about 70 protesters from Milan.
"Prodi has offered Bush Italian bases for his foreign policy, so if you're anti-Bush it's logical to be anti-Prodi," said Marco Ferrando of the Communist Workers' Party.
Fears that the protest might turn violent were highlighted by the cancellation of Bush's planned visit to Rome's colourful Trastevere quarter, where he was to have met leaders of the Sant'Egidio Roman Catholic community.
One of Rome's oldest neighbourhoods, its narrow, cobbled alleys would have been awkward for the presidential motorcade. The Sant'Egidio group, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize because of its work brokering peace and fighting AIDS in Africa, was due to meet Mr Bush at the US embassy instead.