Pope John Paul II looks at some gifts presented to him
by Iran's President Mohammad Khatami at the Vatican Wednesday, March 11
1999 during a special audience that could lay ground for better relations
between Christianity and Islam. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti, Pool)
Puzzled Pope gets TV mini-series
VATICAN CITY, March 13, (AP) - It is not often that Pope John Paul gets
videos of a television mini-series as a gift from a visiting head of state.
That was one of the three gifts Iranian President Mohammad Khatami came
bearing Thursday when he visited the Pope at the end of his landmark visit
to Italy.
Speaking through an interpreter at a photo session after a private audience,
Khatami gave the six video cassettes to a slightly puzzled Pope.
Khatami explained that the series was broadcast on Iranian television
and described the trials and tribulations of early Christians who were
persecuted by Romans in what is now Iran.
"I hope you will find it interesting,'' Khatami said. Khatami
also brought the Pope more traditional gifts of a framed, hand-made tapestry
depicting St Mark's Square in Venice and a book of Islamic poems.
The Pope, who aides say hardly ever watches television but does enjoy
an occasional movie, gave Khatami a framed bronze relief depicting the
apostles Peter and Paul, and commemorative medals of his pontificate in
pearly white boxes.
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