President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has invited Pope Francis to visit Minsk. The Belarusian leader visited an audience with the head of the Roman Catholic Church on Saturday. The meeting took place in the library of the Apostolic palace in Vatican.

The pontiff met the head of the Belarusian state in a small throne-room at an entrance to the private library which serves as the place of reception of world leaders and highest religious hierarchs.

Lukashenko’s son Nikolai was also present at a meeting of the Belarusian leader with the Pope Francis at Vatican, Belarusian radio Svoboda reported.

According to journalists, Lukashenko invited Pope Francis to arrive to Minsk after the meeting, and assured that the pontiff will not regret about this trip because their city is spiritual and hospitable.

Pope Francis presented the Belarusian president an image of an olive tree made by the modern Italian master as a peace symbol and added that they consider Minsk as a city of peace.

Lukashenko presented to the Pope the holographic copy of the Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk and also the copy of an ancient icon and the modern model of the papal carriage, TASS reported.

It should be reminded that in the near future the Pope planned a number of trips to the former Soviet republics. At the end of June he will visit Armenia, and visits to Azerbaijan and Georgia are planned for the end of September - the beginning of October.