President Barack Obama will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican during a week-long trip to Europe set for late March.

The White House says President Obama “looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality.”

The meeting is scheduled for March 27. While in Rome, President Obama also plans to meet with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

The U.S. leader will start his European trip on March 24 in The Hague, Netherlands, where he will take part in a nuclear security summit hosted by the Dutch government.

On March 26, Obama will head to Brussels for a U.S.-European Union summit, and meetings with Belgian leaders and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, before traveling on to Italy.

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama met with the previous pope, Benedict, in July 2009. Benedict also met the Obamas’ two daughters, Malia and Sasha.

Source: VOA