Vatican City, Apr 16, 2007 / 08:53 am (CNA).- The director of the Holy See’s Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, confirmed this week that Pope Benedict XVI will meet with US President George W. Bush on June 9th or 10th and with the former president of Iran, Mohamed Jatami, on May 4th.

According to the Vatican spokesman, the exact date for the meeting with Bush has yet to be determined, but it is expected to take place during the G8 Summit that will be held in Germany June 6-8.  

This would be the first meeting between the current Pope and President Bush.  In April of 2005, Bush traveled to the Vatican to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.  Pope Benedict XVI met with First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Barbara in February of 2006.

President Bush met with Pope John Paul II on three occasions: in July of 2001, May of 2002 and June of 2004.

Father Lombardi also announced that the Holy Father would meet with former Iranian President Mohamed Jatami on May 4, during Jatami’s visit to Italy.  The two were unable to meet in October 2006 due to a last-minute change in Jatami’s scheduled trip to the country.

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