pope
U.S. President George W. Bush shakes hands with Pope Benedict XVI as they meet at the Vatican on Saturday.
ROME, Italy (CNN) -- U.S. President George W. Bush defended his humanitarian record around the world at his first audience with Pope Benedict XVI, telling the pontiff on Saturday about U.S. efforts to battle AIDS in Africa.

Dressed in a black suit and tie, with his wife by his side, Bush greeted Vatican officials outside before ascending the red carpeted stairs to meet the pope for the first time.

Once inside, the president was ushered into a large, ornate room where the pope greeted him with an extended hand and smile. The two sat and talked at a desk in the open room while a group of photographers snapped pictures of the encounter.

It was Bush's first trip to the Vatican since attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II, Benedict's predecessor, in 2005.
The pope asked the president about his meetings with leaders of other industrialized nations in Germany and then changed the topic to international aid.

"I've got a very strong AIDS initiative," Bush said, according to The Associated Press.

The president promised the pope that he would work to get Congress to double the current U.S. commitment for combatting AIDS in Africa to $30 billion over the next five years. At the G8 summit in Germany leaders of the world's richest countries pledged $60 billion to fight diseases such as AIDS in Africa.

The pope also asked Bush about his meeting in Germany with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has criticized a U.S. missile shield in Europe.

"The dialogue with Putin was also good?" the pope asked.

Bush, apparently looking at photographers and reporters who were about to be escorted from the room, replied, according to AP: "Umm. I'll tell you in a minute."

CNN's Ed Henry reported that moving throughout Rome was difficult Saturday due to security barricades and other restrictions implemented in light of the large anti-war protests going on in the city, where about 10,000 police were on duty.
The president had pledged to be in a "listening mode" during talks with Benedict, which were also expected to touch on the controversial war in Iraq.

"I think His Holy Father will be pleased to know that much of our foreign policy is based on the admonition to whom much is given, much is required," Bush said in a pre-trip interview, according to AP. He promised to "go in open-minded."

"Sometimes I'm not poetic enough to describe what it's like to be in the presence of the Holy Father. It is a moving experience," said Bush, a Methodist, of the Roman Catholic leader. "He's a good thinker and a smart man. I'll be in a listening mode."

The late Pope John Paul II vigorously opposed the war, which has been raised on occasion by Benedict. In his Easter message, Benedict said "nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."

Bush began his day with a short meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. Later, he planned to have longer talks and lunch with Prime Minister Romano Prodi, also just returned from the G8 meetings in Germany. The U.S. president's arrival in Italy Friday coincided with the start of the trial of 33 people - including 26 Americans - the first trial in connection with extraordinary rendition, one of the most controversial aspects of Bush's war on terrorism.

'Free society'


Bush made a quick scheduled visit to Poland on Friday, after the G8 summit in Germany concluded, to thank President Lech Kaczynski for Polish support for a U.S. missile defense system on its soil. Bush also praised as "bold" Poland's decision to extend the deployment of 900 Polish soldiers in Iraq through 2007.

"I thank you, and I thank the people of Poland, for the sacrifices being made so that others may live in a free society," Bush said.

The United States plans to negotiate a "fair agreement" with Poland for 10 missile interceptor bases, Bush said. The plan for the bases "enhances the security of Poland and the security of the entire continent against rogue regimes who might be willing to try to blackmail free nations."

Kaczynski made clear that his country sees eye-to-eye with the United States on deployment of a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, despite strong opposition from neighboring Russia.

"The system has no aggressive intentions," said Kaczynski, who accompanied Bush to the Baltic seaside town of Jurata. Such a system will "reinforce the protection of Europe against the dangers which result from the fact that not all the countries of the contemporary world are responsible -- although we do not mean Russia here," he added.

During meetings with Bush in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the missile interceptors instead be based in countries more friendly to Russia, such as Azerbaijan, or possibly in Iraq. Bush has repeatedly said the deployment of a missile defense system would not be aimed at Russia.

Bush met Friday with new French President Nicolas Sarkozy after skipping the morning session of the G8 summit due to what was described as a minor stomach ailment. He later rejoined the summit for its afternoon session after feeling "rejuvenated" by rest, White House Counselor Dan Bartlett said.


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