The president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir #Putin landed in Rome. The first appointment in the Vatican, for the audience with #Pope francesco. The procession of cars, reports ANSA, coming directly from Fiumicino, reached the Vatican crossing St. Peter's Square and the Arco delle Campane, to then reach the San Damaso courtyard.
Here Putin and his entourage, in the presence of the guard of honor of the Swiss Guard, are welcomed by the prefect of the Papal Household, Msgr. Georg Gaenswein, who then accompanies them to the elevator to go up to the Third Loggia and to the meeting with the Pope.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was greeted by Pope Francis on his arrival in the Tronetto Hall of the Papal Apartment with a warm handshake.
Today's one is the third meeting in the Vatican between Pope Francis and Vladimir Putin. The first was on November 25, 2013 and the second on June 10, 2015. But in all, Putin's audiences with three Popes in 19 years have risen to six, given that on June 6, 2000 and November 5, 2003 he also met John Paul II and on March 13, 2007, Benedict XVI, to the point of becoming one of the most "assiduous" heads of state visiting the Tiber.
Later he will see the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale and in the afternoon the premier Giuseppe Conte at Palazzo Chigi. In the evening, dinner at Villa Madama also with the two vice premieres Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini. Finally, a private meeting with Silvio Berlusconi is expected.