This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6444663.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Putin in landmark Vatican visit Putin in landmark Vatican visit
(about 6 hours later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Rome for an official visit, during which he will see both the Pope and the Italian prime minister. Russian President Vladimir Putin has met Pope Benedict XVI for the first time during an official visit to Rome.
It is the first time Mr Putin will have met Pope Benedict XVI. They discussed ways to improve relations between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches, dogged by long-standing differences.
They will discuss improving relations between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church, dogged in the past by long-standing differences. The Vatican said the talks had been held in a "very positive atmosphere".
The Russian president will also discuss energy matters with the Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi. Mr Putin was also expected to discuss energy and security with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in meetings on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
President Putin was said to have been in favour of a visit to Russia by Pope Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II.President Putin was said to have been in favour of a visit to Russia by Pope Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II.
But the late Pope was never able to fulfil his ambition of seeing post-communist Russia.But the late Pope was never able to fulfil his ambition of seeing post-communist Russia.
Pope Benedict puts great emphasis on healing the churches' divisions and some say this is helping to mend the 1,000-year schism between Rome and the eastern Christian churches.Pope Benedict puts great emphasis on healing the churches' divisions and some say this is helping to mend the 1,000-year schism between Rome and the eastern Christian churches.
Energy concerns Energy focus
The Papal Nuncio to Moscow, Monsignor Antonio Mennini, said relations between the two churches were much improved. The Pope and Mr Putin held "cordial" private talks lasting about 25 minutes, Vatican officials said.
The pair spoke mostly in German - the Pope's native language and the one used by Mr Putin during his years working for the KGB in the former East Germany.
Mr Putin and Romano Prodi are likely to focus on energy matters
Speaking before they met, the Papal Nuncio to Moscow, Monsignor Antonio Mennini, said relations between the two churches were much improved.
But any talk of a meeting between Pope Benedict and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, has been ruled out.But any talk of a meeting between Pope Benedict and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, has been ruled out.
Monsignor Mennini said Mr Putin was paying a secular visit to Italy and it was still premature to be talking about papal visits to Moscow.Monsignor Mennini said Mr Putin was paying a secular visit to Italy and it was still premature to be talking about papal visits to Moscow.
Whatever the outcome of the Vatican visit, Mr Putin will have plenty of other business in Italy. The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says the focus of Mr Putin's trip will now turn to energy and security, as he meets Mr Prodi.
He will be invited to a working dinner on Tuesday night with Prime Minister Prodi. The two men are likely to discuss disagreements between Europe and Russia over major issues like Iran, Iraq and the Middle East. The two men are likely to discuss disagreements between Europe and Russia over major issues like Iran, Iraq and the Middle East, our correspondent says.
They will also talk energy. The Russian gas giant, Gazprom, signed a deal with the Italian energy company, ENI, in November which gives the Russian firm a foothold in southern Europe. They will also talk energy, he says, since the Russian gas giant, Gazprom, signed a deal with the Italian energy company, ENI, in November which gives the Russian firm a foothold in southern Europe.
But while Mr Prodi is a supporter of closer economic ties, he is looking for assurances from Mr Putin that Russia will guarantee supply and will not be using gas and oil to drive hard diplomatic agendas with its neighbours, as Russia has been accused of doing in the past. But while Mr Prodi is a supporter of closer economic ties, he is looking for assurances from Mr Putin that Russia will guarantee supply and will not use gas and oil to drive hard diplomatic agendas with its neighbours, as Moscow has been accused of doing in the past, our correspondent adds