Pope Francis is scheduled to receive US President, Barack Obama, in audience in the Vatican, on Thursday 27 March 2014. The news was announced on Tuesday by the White House, and confirmed by Father Federico Lombardi, Head of the Vatican Press Office.

It will be Obama’s first meeting with Pope Francis. At the Inaugural Mass of his Petrine Ministry on March 19, 2013, the United States was represented by US Vice-President, Joe Biden.

The announcement comes just days after the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal-designate Pietro Parolin met with US Secretary of State, John Kerry.

During his time in Italy, Barack Obama will also meet with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, and with Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

The US President will be coming to Rome as part of an official European journey which sees a stop-over in The Hague on March 24 and 25 for the Nuclear Security Summit hosted by the Dutch Government and for a series of bilateral meetings there. On March 26 Obama will be in Brussels for the EU-US Summit, for meetings with the Belgian Governement, and an encounter with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of Nato.

In July 2009, Barack Obama was received in audience by Benedict XVI.