Iran's President Rouhani meets Pope, asks for prayers

January 26, 2016

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on January 26, and as he was leaving, asked for the Pope’s prayers.

The Pope’s discussions with the Iranian leader centered on that country’s agreement to restrict its pursuit of nuclear weapons. A Vatican statement released after the meeting hinted that the Pope had also spoken with Rouhani about Iran’s support for terrorist organizations, saying that the talks emphasized “the important role that Iran is called upon to fulfil, along with other countries in the region, to promote suitable political solutions to the problems afflicting the Middle East, to counter the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking.”

Rouhani, who was in Rome for talks related to the nuclear agreement, was the first Iranian leader to speak directly with a Roman Pontiff since Mohammade Khatami met with visited St. John Paul II in 1999.

As he left the apostolic palace, Rouhani said to Pope Francis: “I ask you to pray for me.”

 

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Further information:

• Iranian president asks Pope Francis to pray for him (CNS)
• Audience with the President of Iran: the importance of dialogue and responsibility of religious communities in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peace (VIS)
• Rouhani asks pope to pray for him (ANSA)