French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at the Vatican to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.
The president arrived 15 minutes late for the meeting at the Apostolic Palace and looked a little stressed, according to witnesses. After the pontific greeted him in French and the heads of states exchanged gifts, the atmosphere was relaxed and the conversation lasted for 33 minutes.
Sarkozy said France had a strong impression from the Pope’s visit in September 2008, and presented Benedict XVI with The Genius of Christianity by Francois Rene de Chateaubriand.
The pontific gave his guest a print of St. Peter's Basilica. The French president asked him for rosary beads for one of his relatives and immediately received the gift.
