File photo of Barack Obama.
Efforts to counter poverty and inequality will be on the agenda when US President Barack Obama meets Pope Francis in Vatican City on March 27, a presidential spokesman said today.
"The President looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.
Obama's trip to the Vatican to meet the pontiff and his meeting with the Italian President and Prime Minister in Rome on March 27 is part of his European trip that would also take him to the Netherlands and Belgium.
"While in the Netherlands on March 24-25, the President will participate in the Nuclear Security Summit, hosted by the Dutch government, where world leaders will highlight progress made to secure nuclear materials and commit to future steps to prevent nuclear terrorism," Carney said.
Obama will also hold bilateral meets with Dutch officials, the spokesman said.
"From the Netherlands, the President will travel to Brussels on March 26 for a US-EU Summit with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission," he said.
"While in Belgium, the President will also hold bilateral events with Belgian government officials and with the NATO Secretary General," Carney said.