Pope, Putin chat for 35 minutes, then both kiss icon of Madonna that Putin presents as gift

Pope, Putin chat for 35 minutes, then both kiss icon of Madonna that Putin presents as gift
Vladimir Putin showed off his religious side during a visit Monday to the Vatican, stopping to cross himself and kiss an icon of the Madonna that he gave to Pope Francis. But Moscow’s improving relations with the Vatican went only so far: Putin didn’t invite Francis to visit. The Vatican said Monday that ecumenical relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches weren’t really discussed during the 35-minute discussion between Putin and Francis in the pope’s private library, though Putin brought greetings from Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill.