Russian president Vladimir Putin
has shown off his religious side during a visit to the Vatican,
stopping to cross himself and kiss an icon of the Madonna that he gave
to Pope Francis.
Mr Putin and Francis met privately for 35 minutes this evening in the pope's private library.
The Vatican did not immediately give details about the conversation.
Francis
gave Mr Putin a ceramic mosaic of the Vatican gardens, and Mr Putin
presented Francis with an image of the icon of the Madonna of Vladimir,
an important religious icon for the Russian Orthodox faithful.
After
they exchanged the gifts, Mr Putin asked Francis if he liked it, and
Francis said he did.
Mr Putin then crossed himself and kissed the image,
and Francis followed suit.
The Argentinian pope is particularly devoted to Marian icons.