Pope Benedict XVI was unable to meet with heads of state who were in Rome this week "because of the number of requests, the limited time available, and prior commitments," according to a statement released by the Vatican press office on June 3.With many government leaders in Rome to participate in a conference organized by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Vatican-watchers had engaged in some intense speculation about the prospects for papal audiences.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in particular, had pressed for a private meeting with the Pontiff.
However, on June 2 the Vatican revealed that the Pope had no plans for a private audience with any visiting political leader.
In explaining the Pope's decision, the Vatican press office disclosed that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Secretary of State, has written to each of the heads of state who are in Rome for the FAO conference, inviting them to seek a papal audience at some other time.
The press office reminded journalists that in April 2006, the Secretariat of State had announced a new policy regarding papal audiences, saying that Pope Benedict could not routinely grant requests for meetings with government leaders attending international conferences.
The Secretariat of State had advised diplomats to seek private audiences at other times, when the Pope would not be inundated with such requests. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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