Pope had to wait again on the eve of Vladimir Putin – Ekho Moskvy radio station

The Kremlin explained almost an hour late, including the traffic situation.

The first meeting of Putin and Francis in 2013 also began with a delay. Then the pope waited for the head of state for 50 minutes. On Wednesday, the Russian president has set a new record, the Pope arrived almost an hour later than agreed, journalists counted British “Guardian”. The Kremlin explained the delay in protracted negotiations in Milan, as well as the fact that the motorcade was moving too slowly through the streets. According to Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the Vatican warned that the Russian leader is delayed.

When they reached the Apostolic Palace, the President, together with Francis went to the papal library where they exchanged souvenirs. Putin presented the panel with Christ the Saviour Cathedral and several volumes of the Orthodox Encyclopedia. In turn, the head of the Vatican handed to the president medal with the image of an angel, a peacemaker.

The conversation took place behind closed doors and lasted about an hour. One of the topics was the situation in Ukraine. The Pope expressed the hope that all parties will adhere to the Minsk Agreement.

Before returning to Moscow, Putin managed to communicate with the ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. For this meeting, Berlusconi came to the president at the airport.