Pope, Obama meet

Jul. 10 - The Obamas' meeting with the Pontiff takes place amid tight security following the U.S. president's attendance at the summit of G8 leaders in L'Aquila.

U.S. President Barack Obama had his first meeting with Pope Benedict at the Vatican on Friday. Obama arrived at the Vatican under tight security from the central city of L'Aquila, where he participated in the G8 summit. The two held private talks in the pope's frescoed study in the Vatican's apostolic palace. According to the Vatican, Obama promised Pope Benedict that he would do everything possible to reduce the number of abortions in the United States.Bioethics and life issues were a central part of the discussion officials said. Obama supports abortion rights and says his policy is to change economic and social conditions so as to put more women in situations where they do not feel they have to have an abortion. The pope gave Obama, who last March lifted restrictions of federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, a copy of a recent Vatican document on bio-ethics in which the Holy See explains its opposition to such practices. The Vatican says it wants to have constructive talks with Obama on a range of issues including peace, the Middle East, the environment and dialogue with the Muslim world. The White House said Obama wanted to work together on a range of issues with the Vatican. Before he arrived at the Vatican, Michelle Obama and their children Malia and Sasha were given a private tour of St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.Michelle Obama was granted an audience with Pope Benedict after talks with her husband had finished.