The Vatican, February 17, 2011
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The pontiff welcomed the president at the Small Throne Room and invited him to the library.
The library meeting lasted for about 30 minutes. The pontiff affirmed the importance of the Russian president's visit to the Vatican.
The president's wife and members of the Russian delegation were introduced to the pontiff. Each of them was given a present. The president and the pontiff also exchanged gifts.
Medvedev also had a brief meeting with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone.
That was the first official visit of the Russian chief of state to the Vatican after the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Russia and the Holy See in December 2009, when Medvedev paid a working visit to the Vatican. He signed an ordinance transforming the Russian mission to the Vatican into an embassy after that visit.
