(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is scheduled to receive US President, Barack Obama, in
audience in the Vatican, on Thursday 27 March 2014.
The news was announced
on Tuesday by the White House, and confirmed by Father Federico Lombardi, Head of
the Vatican Press Office.
It will be Obama’s first meeting with Pope Francis.
At the Inaugural Mass of his Petrine Ministry on March 19, 2013, the United States
was represented by US Vice-President, Joe Biden.
The announcement comes just
days after the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal-designate Pietro Parolin met with
US Secretary of State, John Kerry.
During his time in Italy, Barack Obama will
also meet with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, and with Prime Minister Enrico
Letta.
The US President will be coming to Rome as part of an official European
journey which sees a stop-over in The Hague on March 24 and 25 for the Nuclear Security
Summit hosted by the Dutch Government and for a series of bilateral meetings there.
On March 26 Obama will be in Brussels for the EU-US Summit, for meetings with the
Belgian Governement, and an encounter with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General
of Nato.
In July 2009, Barack Obama was received in audience by Benedict XVI.