Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday met Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, a member of his country's tiny Roman Catholic community. In "cordial discussions," Asp and the pontiff examined "certain current international questions, with particular reference to the economic crisis and to Japan's and the Holy See's commitment to Africa," the Vatican said in a statement.
The two leaders held talks at the pontiff's papal residence for some 30 minutes before exchanging gifts.
Aso presented the pontiff with a digital video camera and in exchange received a medallion commemorating Benedict's pontificate, the ANSA news agency reported.
Catholicsin Japan number around 509,000 - just under 0.5 per cent of the total population which is mostly Shinto or Buddhist.
Aso is in Italy to attend a Group of Eight summit which begins Wednesday in L'Aquila a city situated some 118 kilometres east of Rome.