On Monday, Russian Vladimir Putin had a busy day in Rome from a visit with the Pope, through a protest to a visit with Italian President Giorgia Napolitano and on to a dinner with his old friend Silvio Berlusconi.
During his visit with Pope Francis, Putin showed off his religious side during a visit to the Vatican when he stopped to cross himself and kiss an icon of the Madonna which he gave to the Pope. During his audience with Francis, Putin thanked the pope for his September letter to the Group of 20 meeting in St. Petersburg. In the letter, Francis urged the world leaders to abandon the “futile pursuit” of military action as a solution in Syria and lamented what he said were one sided interests that had prevented a diplomatic end to the conflict. Francis had mobilized hundreds of thousands around the world to participate in a daylong fast and prayer for peace as the United States threatened military strikes in response to chemical weapon attacks near Damascus. Moscow also opposed military action as well, however, Russian motives were far more likely to help Russia achieve a greater share of power in the region.
Francis gave Putin a ceramic mosaic of the Vatican gardens while Putin presented Francis with an image of the icon of the Madonna of Vladimir, an important religious icon for the Russian Orthodox faithful. Afterwards, Putin asked Francis if he liked the icon to which Francis said he did. Putin then crossed himself and kissed the image, and Francis followed suit. Long running tensions in Russia between Orthodox faithful and Catholics in Russia prevented Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II from achieving their long sought dreams of a Russian pilgrimage. Ideas have been floated concerning a meeting in a third country but the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said ecumenical issues weren’t discussed Monday. Moscow-Vatican relations have only improved a bit so far though as Putin did not invite Francis to visit. Later, Federico confirmed that Putin didn’t invite Francis, making the Russian president one of the few world leaders who have visited the popular Pope and not extend an invitation in exchange.
After a 35 minute audience with Francis, Putin managed to get through a small protest concerning members of a punk band in Russia being detained and went across town to pay a courtesy call on Italian President Giorgia Napolitano followed by a trip to see his old friend Berlusconi for diner.
After a busy day for Putin, he will travel Tuesday to Trieste for a meeting with Premier Enrico Letta.
