An Orthodox icon and a T-shirt signed by Romanian footballer Gheorghe Hagi. This is what Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta offered Pope Francis during his recent visit to Vatican. In exchange, he received a medal, and an icon for his son's upcoming birthday. The Orthodox icon given to the Pope was sent by Romania's Patriarch.

Pope Francis received Ponta at Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, in the private library. The Romanian Prime Minister was accompanied in his Vatican visit by his wife Daciana, who is also a Member of the European Parliament, by Foreign Affairs Minister Titus Corlăţean, Environment Minister Rovana Plumb and another MEP, Corina Cretu, vice-president of the Socialist group in the European Parliament.

Among topics discussed during the meeting between the Romanian PM and Pope Francis were the collaboration between Romania and the Holly Seat, supporting human rights, religious freedom and fighting discrimination of Christians across the world. The Romanian PM thanked the Pope for allowing representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church serving the country's communities in Italy to use local churches for mass and religious events.

editor@romania-insider.com