(zaman) - Pope XVI's Benedict meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey's capital Ankara has ended.
The meeting in the VIP lounge of Ankara's Esenboga Airport just prior to Erdogan's departure for a NATO summit in Latvia - lasted for nearly 20 minutes, reports Trend.
Prior to the meeting, the pope and Erdogan made a brief declaration to members of the press. The pope expressed his pleasure at being in Turkey while Erdogan declared he was pleased to see the pope in the country.
During the gathering, an official from the Vatican and Turkish actress Serra Yilmaz provided interpretation.
Pope Benedict XVI left for the Anitkabir mausoleum of Ataturk in Ankara after meeting with Erdogan.