TIMESONLINE: Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, was received by Pope Benedict XVI on an official visit to Rome this morning - but without Carla Bruni, his Italian-born girlfriend.
Both French and Italian media had speculated that Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni would enjoy a pre-Christmas “Roman holiday”.
Christophe Barbier, the editor of the French magazine L'Express, which broke the news of the Sarkozy-Bruni relationship, had suggested that Rome would be Ms Bruni's first appearance as unofficial “First Lady” of France.
However Vatican officials made clear to the Elysée Palace that Ms Bruni would not be welcome at the encounter because she and the French President are not married. Under Vatican protocol it was “inappropriate” for a head of state to meet the pontiff on an official visit accompanied by a girlfriend, sources said. Sarkozy meets Pope – but ex-model girlfriend Carla Bruni is not welcome >>> By Richard Owen in Rome
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