Ponitff Meets With Polish Leader

The Vatican press office announced that that audience was followed by a meeting between Kaczynski and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope's secretary of state, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations with states.

"During the cordial discussions," the communiqué reported, "the president was pleased to express his thanks to the Holy Father for the attention he has always dedicated to Poland. Certain bilateral and regional questions were also considered, noting the affinity of the positions of the Holy See and Poland in various international fields."

Kaczynski, of the conservative Law and Justice party, has been the president of Poland since December 2005.