Elizabeth II visited the Pope Francisco at the Vatican

Pope Francisco today received in private audience to England Queen Elizabeth II, head of the Anglican Church and whose last visit to the Holy See was in 2000 to meet Pope Juan Pablo II.

The hearing, in camera, did not occur in the papal apartment, as usual in meetings with the authorities and heads of state, but was held in one of the rooms adjoining the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

Argentine pontiff gave a present to the monarch addressed to his great-grandson George, son of the Dukes of Cambridge, William and Catherine. For its part, the Queen gave the pope a basket with British goods and fruits of their properties.

Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Rome at noon today for lunch with the head of the Italian State, Giorgio Napolitano, in a visit that lasted about five hours and ended with the meeting with the pope.