King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, of Bahrain, met on Monday with Italy's President Sergio Mattarella and Vatican Pope Francis as part of his first key visit to the country since 2008 during which he also gathered with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Mattarella welcomed King Hamad and his accompanying delegation, and the two sides held talks on deep-rooted bilateral ties, and regional and international issues of common concern, the Republican Quirinal Palace said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Pope Francesco received King Hamad in his office at the Apostolic Palace in a special session, and spoke for 30 minutes, said a statement of the Vatican press hall.

It indicated that the Pope greeted the guest Bahraini delegation had gave the Bahraini king a copy of the papal encyclical on this year's Day of Peace and the Document on Human Fraternity.

While the King gave him an illustrated folder about his visit to Bahrain and a folder about the construction of the new cathedral in Bahrain, it said.

The King is set to hold bilateral talks with Meloni on the Israeli occupation forces' escalation on the Gaza Strip and pushing efforts towards the path to a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East region.

Source: Kuwait News Agency