This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8144753.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Obama holds first talks with Pope Obama holds first talks with Pope
(30 minutes later)
President Barack Obama is holding his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.President Barack Obama is holding his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said earlier this week that he expected discussions to be "frank". White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said earlier this week that he thought discussions would be "frank".
Correspondents say the two are likely to find common ground on subjects like nuclear non-proliferation, climate change and the global economic crisis. Correspondents say the two are likely to find common ground on subjects like Middle East peace, climate change and the global economic crisis.
Both have also made efforts to reach out the Muslim world and share views on pushing for peace in the Middle East. They are also expected to address areas on which they disagree, including abortion and stem cell research.
The Vatican has adopted a friendly tone towards the US president since his election last November, despite his change of policy from the Bush administration on funding for embryonic stem cell research, the BBC's David Willey reports from Rome. As he shook hands with the pontiff, Mr Obama said it was a "great honour" to meet him.
The Vatican newspaper has gone as far to defend him against attacks by abortion rights opponents in America, asserting that he is not a pro-abortion president as he has been described by some American Catholic bishops, our correspondent adds. 'Friendly tone'
President Obama arrived at the Vatican after a Group of Eight (G8) summit in the Italian city of L'Aquila, and leaves later for Ghana. Mr Obama arrived at the Vatican from the Group of Eight (G8) summit in the Italian city of L'Aquila, and is expected to brief the Pope on the meeting.
"I think that there's a lot that they agree on that they'll get a chance to discuss," Mr Gibbs said.
Both men have made efforts to reach out to the Muslim world and share views about helping the poor cope with the global economic crisis.
This week the Pope published an encyclical - the highest form of papal teaching - in which he argued for an ethical approach towards economic policies and in reorganising the international financial system.
The BBC's David Willey reports from Rome that the Vatican has adopted a friendly tone towards the US president since his election last November, despite his change of policy from the Bush administration on funding for embryonic stem cell research.
The Vatican newspaper has gone as far to defend him against attacks by abortion rights opponents in America, asserting that he is not a pro-abortion president as some American Catholic bishops have said, our correspondent adds.
Before the meeting with the Pope, Mr Obama held talks with the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarciso Bertone.
Afterwards, he is due to travel to the West African nation of Ghana.