Iran's president asked Pope Francis to pray for him on Tuesday after the two men held private talks at the Vatican.
The talks were part of an Iranian effort to take a more prominent place on the world stage after a nuclear deal with Western powers.
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Credit: Mashable
President Hassan Rouhani's visit to the Holy See was the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian president since 1999. Iran, which agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an end to economic sanctions, is eager to carve out a bigger role in mediating Middle East conflicts.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani leafs through a book he gave to Pope Francis as a gift. https://t.co/9yTg02qBp7 pic.twitter.com/o3W6I8qvIM— The Associated Press (@AP) January 26, 2016