Pope Francis and French President Francois Hollande, left, exchange gifts on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Hollande is visiting Pope Francis for a special audience after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) - French President Francois Hollande visited Pope Francis on Wednesday to thank him for his words of comfort after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks in recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest.
Hollande arrived at the Vatican for the 40-minute private audience after visiting the French church in Rome's historic center. He told reporters that he wanted to thank Francis for his solidarity after the July 14 Nice attack and the subsequent slaying of the priest in his church.
When Hollande spoke with Francis last month, "he told me in confidence that he was standing like a brother by the side of the French people," the French president said. "All the words that have been said - I'm also thinking of the leaders of the French church- have been very important because they helped remind the French people of their unity ... and also of the solidarity of the whole world toward France."
Hollande had called Francis to express his solidarity after Islamic extremists attacked a Normandy church during Mass and slit the throat of the priest, the Rev. Jacques Hamel. Hollande pledged to protect French churches and said that "When a priest is attacked, it is all of France that has been hurt."
The Vatican condemned the attack as "absurd" and "barbaric" though Francis subsequently declined to label Islam as a whole as "terrorist."
The Vatican provided no information about the content of Wednesday's audience, but Hollande said he would speak with Francis about refugees, the situation in the Middle East and the plight of Christians who have been targeted in particular by Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria.
He presented Francis with a piece of Sevres porcelain with the French seal on it, the Vatican said. Francis gave Hollande a bronze sculpture symbolizing the passage from war to peace, as well as his recent teaching documents on the environment and families.
It's the second time the two have met privately; Hollande had a state visit on Jan. 24, 2014.
Pope Francis, left, and French President Francois Hollande meet at the Vatican, Wednesday, August 17, 2016, during a special audience after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (L'Osservatore Romano/pool photo via AP)
The Associated Press
A view of the Catholic church of Saint Louis des Francais in Rome before the visit of French President Francois Hollande who paid his homage to the victims of terrorism, Wednesday, August 17, 2016. President Hollande and the French delegation later attended a special audience with Pope Francis after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (Alessandro Di Meo/ ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
French President Francois Hollande, second from left, and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, left, leave the Catholic church of Saint Louis des Francais in Rome after their visit in homage to the victims of terrorism, Wednesday, August 17, 2016. President Hollande and the French delegation later attended a special audience with Pope Francis after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (Alessandro Di Meo/ ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
French President Francois Hollande, second from left, and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, left, talk to the media after their visit to the Catholic church Saint Louis des Francais in Rome in homage to the victims of terrorism, Wednesday, August 17, 2016. President Hollande and the French delegation later attended a special audience with Pope Francis after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (Alessandro Di Meo/ ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
A man lights a candle in front of a picture of Rev. Jacques Hamel, the victim of a terrorist attack on a Normandy church where he was leading Mass last month, on display in Rome's Catholic church Saint Louis des Francais, prior to the visit by French President Francois Hollande, Wednesday, August 17, 2016. President Hollande and the French delegation later attended a special audience with Pope Francis after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (Alessandro Di Meo/ ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
French President Francois Hollande, fourth from left, and members of his delegation, including French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, third from left, pose with Pope Francis on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Hollande is visiting Pope Francis for a special audience after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
French President Francois Hollande, right, and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, left, are seen off by the the rector of Saint Louis des Francais church in Rome Monsignor Francois Bousquet, center, after their visit in homage to the victims of terrorism, Wednesday, August 17, 2016. President Hollande and the French delegation later attended a special audience with Pope Francis after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (Alessandro Di Meo/ ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis and French President Francois Hollande, right, exchange gifts on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Hollande is visiting Pope Francis for a special audience after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis and French President Francois Hollande, right, exchange gifts on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Hollande is visiting Pope Francis for a special audience after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks over recent months left more than 200 dead, including an elderly French priest. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press