By KUNA,
Rome : U.S. President George W. Bush left the Italian capital Rome on Friday after he was warmly received in the Vatican by Pope Benedict XVI, thus completing Bush’s visit to Italy and the Vatican in three days.
Bush and his huge delegation headed to Ciampino Airport, to climb aboard Air Force 1, with Paris as the third destination in his European tour.
After an unprecedented walk through the Vatican gardens, Bush held a private meeting with the the spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church in the historical St John’s Tower, lasting half an hour.
The two leaders afterwards took pictures along with Bush’s wife, Laura.
Sources from the Vatican stated that Bush and the Pope discussed global issues, like peace in the Middle East and the state of affairs in Lebanon and Iraq.
Bush’s visit comes after a previous visit made by the Pope to the United States in mid April.