President Barack Obama met with Pope Francis for the first time on Thursday, as part of his visit to Vatican City.
"It is a great honor. I'm a great admirer," President Obama said at the meeting. The two walked into the Papal Library and took seats at opposite sides of the Pope's desk, according to the White House pool report. They each had one interpreter. The president and Pope Francis discussed poverty and growing inequality. But tougher topics were discussed as well, including contraception, abortion and legalized gay marriage.
President Obama is on a tour of Europe this week. Most recently, he was in the Netherlands for the nuclear summit, and he spoke with the European Council and European Commission in Belgium. Next on the agenda is a meeting with both Italian President Napolitano and the Prime Minister.