Today, US President George W. Bush has his first meeting with the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI. In 35-minutes talks they discussed the situation in the Middle East as well as the conditions Christian minorities face there.

"Particular attention was given to the Israeli-Palestinian question, to Lebanon, to the worrying situation in Iraq, and to the critical conditions being experienced by the Christian communities," a Vatican statement said.

Also, President Bush and Pope Benedict discussed about moral and religious issues. "Among them those concerning human rights and religious freedom, the defence and promotion of life, marriage and the family, the education of the young and sustainable development," the Vatican added.

Bush and Benedict also exchanged gifts, with the US president then holding talks with the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

US President George W Bush had also a meetiong with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Saturday. In a joint press conference stressed the two leaders said their countries remained strong allies regardless of differences over foreign policy and despite judicial proceedings brought against US military and CIA agents by Italian prosecutors.

"Relations between our countries are strong and we intend to keep them this way," Bush said. "Fortunately, there are no serious bilateral problems that divide us," Prodi declared.