Putin Meets Pope, ‘Welcoming’ Populist Govt During Italy Trip

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a lightning visit to Rome on Thursday, including talks with the pope, hailing efforts by Italy’s populist government to ease sanctions despite Moscow’s ongoing crisis with the West.

Rome’s historic centre was on security lockdown for the visit, with 50 streets blocked to traffic.

Putin landed around an hour late at Fiumicino airport and his convoy drove into Rome and the Vatican City where he met the pope for nearly an hour of closed-door talks.

Putin has arrived late for all three of their encounters, the last of which was in 2015 when the pope urged all parties to the conflict in Ukraine to make a “sincere effort” for peace.

Thursday’s meeting came a day before the pope receives leaders of Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church.

Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine are mostly Russian Orthdodox, while those they fight are Orthodox and Greek Catholic.

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