Pope Benedict XVI received US president Barack Obama for the first time at the Vatican on Friday after the G8 summit ended in the central Italian city of L'Aquila.The pope and Obama met in an elegant room inside the papal apartments for a private audience.
The meeting began at 4:45 pm local time and president Obama expressed his gratitude for the historic meeting and said he hoped to have a "strong relationship" with Benedict.
Before the meeting, Obama's wife Michelle and the couple's two children, Sasha and Malia, visited some of the Vatican's most renowned sites.
The Sistine chapel and the Vatican museums were closed to the public for an hour while the Obama family were shown through amid tight security.
Michelle Obama and her two daughters visited Saint Peter's Basilica, the papal tombs, and the dome of the basilica.
Then they climbed the royal staircase leading to the Apostolic palace which was built by famous Renaissance architect Sangallo the Younger in the early 16th century.
After the Sistine chapel Michelle Obama met the president and together they met the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
Following the meeting with the secretary of state, the couple met the pope.
Obama and the pope discussed the G8 summit. Obama said that "it was very productive, particularly today," refering to the recent pledge of 20 billion dollars in aid for developing nations.
Obama and the pontiff share many similar opinions and ideas concerning aid for the poor and pushing for peace in the Middle East.
However, they strongly disagree on other issues including gay rights, abortion, and the death penalty.
Following the meeting with the Pope, Obama was due to make his first trip as US president to Africa, making his first appearance in the west African country of Ghana.
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