The press office of President Aliaksandr Lukashenka has confirmed he will meet with Pope Francis at the end of the week. The Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta was the first to report today about Lukashenka's first visit to EU after the sanctions. In evening of May 17, Belarus 1 TV channel quoted the press office of the president and reported that Lukashenka's official visit will take place on May 20-21.
In Italy, Lukashenka's agenda is reportedly to include negotiations on IT, machinery manufacturing and agriculture. When in Vatican, he will discuss with Pope further cooperation between the Belarusian sate and the Roman Catholic church.
The head of Belarus visited Italy and Vatican in 2009.