Roman Pope Benedict XVI received Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. The 35-minute meeting was held in a library of Sacred Palace attended by two interpreters, ITAR TASS reports referring to the Holy See press office.

In the beginning of the meeting First Lady of Georgian Sandra Roelofs was presented to Pope. Thereafter gifts exchange took place – two Orthodox icons for Pontiff and a souvenir pen in the form of Bernini columns — to Saakashvili. The president was escorted by Georgian Ambassador to Vatican Ketevan Bagrationi.

S.T.