Advertise in this spot on CatholicCulture.org. View all ads.

Catholic World News News Feature

Pope set to meet Austrian, Polish, Italian, Iranian leaders October 03, 2006

Pope Benedict XVI has scheduled a number of meetings with visiting heads of state during the month of October, including a private audience with the former president of Iran.

After holding the number of private audiences to a minimum during the summer, the Holy Father will have a fuller calendar after his return to the Vatican this week.

On October 5, he will meet with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, who is likely to convey a formal invitation for the Pontiff to visit Austria. Pope Benedict has already indicated that he hopes to travel to Austria in September 2007, for ceremonies marking the 850th anniversary of the Marian shrine at Mariazell.

On October 12, the Pope will receive Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski. The twin brother of President Lech Kaczynski took the reins of the Polish government in July, two months after the papal visit to Poland.

On October 16 it will be Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi making his first visit since taking power in May, succeeding Silvio Berlusconi. The head of Italy's new center-left government had indicated some impatience in arranging a papal audience.

Late in October-- the most likely date is October 26-- the Pope will meet with Mohammad Khatami, the Islamic cleric who was president of Iran from 1997 until 2005, when he was succeeded by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The former Iranian leaders will participate in an October 27 seminar at the Gregorian University on how Christianity and Islam can handle the challenges of secularism, modernism, and democracy.

Looking ahead to November, the Pope is scheduled to meet on November 6 with Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom (whose country is currently experiencing political turmoil), and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.