US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was very much looking forward to meeting Pope Francis during his upcoming trip to Italy next month.
Leaders normally give the Holy See several months' notice when requesting a papal audience, but both Vatican and White House officials have said they are trying to arrange a meeting.
"I look very much forward to meeting the pope," Trump said during a news conference with Italy's Paolo Gentiloni after talks to prepare for the G7 leaders' summit on May 26 and 27 in Sicily.