President Bush is meeting in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi for talks expected on Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iran, the Balkans and Kosovo.
Their talks Saturday follow discussions earlier this week at a summit of the world's eight major industrialized nations held in Germany.
Mr. Bush also stopped at the Vatican for talks with Pope Benedict on HIV/AIDS and other topics. It was their first meeting since the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became pope in 2005.
A Vatican statement says they discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Latin America, the situation in Iraq and of Christians in that country, as well as Africa, with particular attention to Darfur.
Earlier, Mr. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. Discussions included fighting terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation regarding Iran, and the next steps in efforts to establish a tribunal to prosecute suspects in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Thousands of security officers had been deployed in Rome ahead of expected demonstrations against the war in Iraq and Italy's troop deployment in Afghanistan.
Mr. Bush Saturday also met with a prominent Catholic lay organization, the Sant'Egidio Community. The meeting was moved from a Trastevere district location to the U.S. embassy due to logistical concerns.
Mr. Bush travels on to Albania and Bulgaria before returning to Washington Monday. - VOA News
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