Pope met last Europe’s dictator and his son Kolya (Photo, video)

• 27.04.2009, 14:40

Pope Benedict XVI met with Alyaksandr Lukashenka in Vatican on April 27.

As BelaPAN notes referring to Vatican Radio, Lukashenka arrived at the entrance to the Apostolic Palace at 11 a.m. (12 Minsk time) and was greeted by the prefect of the papal residence who showed him into the audience room.

Lukashenka was accompanied by minister of foreign affaires of Belarus Syarhei Martynau and Syarhei Aleynik, Belarus’ ambassador to the Holy See. According to Vatican Radio, the Belarusian delegation included “some 12 more people”.

According to Wall Street Italia, Lukashenka arrived in Vatican with his 5-year old son Kolya. The boy gave the Pontiff his unofficial present – a Russian ABCs book.

“We have been waiting for the meeting for many years and finally we’ve met,” Lukashenka said shaking hands with the Pontiff. Lukashenka and Pope Benedict XVI went to the pontiff's private library for face-to-face talks.

As an Interfax-Zapad correspondent reports, in the end of the audience, Lukashenka introduced the members of the Belarusian delegation to the Pontiff. The Belarusian dictator and the Pope Benedict XVI exchanged gifts. Lukashenka gave the Pontiff an image of Jesus Christ made of Belarusian natural materials.

"If you find the time, we will meet on Belarusian soil -- if that is God's will," Lukashenka said after the audience parting with the Pontiff at the Apostolic Palace.

After an audience with the Pope, Lukashenka met with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state.

The Belarusian ruler also plans to have meetings with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.

According to Italian information agency ANSA, Lukashenka’s plane landed at Ciampino military airport at 8.40 p.m. local tie on April 26.

Photo - АР