US President Barack Obama may meet with Pope Benedict XVI in July when he is in Italy for a Group of Eight summit, the ANSA news agency reported Sunday, without citing its sources.It would most likely take place as the G8 leaders wrap up their July 8-10 summit to be held in L'Aquila, the Italian town devastated by an earthquake in April that killed some 299 people, the agency said.
ANSA added that "the most likely date would be July 10, although there has been no official confirmation."
It would the first meeting between the pope and the US leader.
Following Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential race, the pope offered his blessing "that God would support him and the American people, as well as all people of good will in working for peace, solidarity and justice in the world," a Vatican spokesman said at the time.
Obama and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church spoke by telephone several days after the US election.
Obama, who is a Christian, is known to support a woman's right to choose an abortion and is in favour of recognising civil unions for homosexuals -- both positions strongly opposed by the Vatican.
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Source (AFP)
SV (ED)