Obama meets Pope Francis

U.S Prsident, Barrack Obama meets Pope Francis. BBC Photo

US President Barakc Obama has met Pope Francis in Rome. Obama said, it  was a "great honour" to meet Pope Francis for the first time during a European tour dominated by the crisis in Ukraine.

He flew into Rome after three days of talks with world leaders in the Netherlands and Brussels.

Tensions are high following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

On Wednesday Mr Obama said the US and the EU were considering deeper sanctions against Moscow if there were any further incursions.

Pro-Russian forces seized Crimea - which has a Russian-speaking majority - this month.Moscow annexed the peninsula after it declared independence following a referendum that Ukraine and its Western allies consider illegal.

In other Ukraine developments:

Six Ukrainian military officers detained by Russian troops in Crimea have been released, but five remain in custody. Those released include Col Yuli Mamchur, the commander of Belbek base, which fell on Saturday

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it has agreed a loan deal with Ukraine worth $14bn to $18bn

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk says the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas will increase by 79% from 1 April

'Brute force'

In a newspaper interview published before their meeting, Mr Obama described the Pope as a man who "lived the Christian Gospel".

US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said President Obama has been inspired by Pope Francis' messages of inclusion and equality.

He said Mr Obama planned to express his appreciation for his leadership.The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says the two men have very different views on subjects such as abortion, contraception and gay marriage, but at this meeting they are likely to emphasise what they share.

After meeting the Pope, Mr Obama is due to meet both Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

President Obama is accompanied in Italy by US Secretary of State John Kerry.  ....BBC.