From Fox News:
A day before he is scheduled to meet with Ukranian Catholic leaders, Pope Franciswelcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday, speaking with him for just under an hour about a variety of issues.
Francis and Putin, who met at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, discussed “various questions of relevance to the life of the Catholic Church in Russia,” the Vatican said in a statement, adding that they also covered “the ecological question and various themes relating to current international affairs, with particular reference to Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela.” The pair also expressed their satisfaction at the development of bilateral relations during the “cordial discussions,” the Vatican said. “Thank you for the time you have dedicated to me,” Putin told Francis.