George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism . 
George W Bush
A source close to the Vatican said that Mr Bush was the most "Catholic-minded" president since John F Kennedy , who famously played down his Catholicism . 
George W Bush and Pope Benedict XVI have held an intimate meeting in Rome as rumours mounted in Italy that the president may follow in Tony Blair 's footsteps and convert to Catholicism . 
However , George William Rutler , a New York-based priest who is close to the president , was quoted by the Washington Post earlier this year saying that Mr Bush "is not unaware of how evangelism , by comparison with Catholicism , may seem more limited both theologically and historically" . 
The usual protocol for heads-of-state is a meeting in the pope 's library in the Apostolic Palace , but a spokesman for the Vatican said Benedict wanted to reward Mr Bush for the "warmth" of his reception at the White House earlier this year . 
The two men have grown increasingly close in the past two years , and Mr Bush was overheard whispering : "What an honour , what an honour , what an honour !" 
Mr Bush appointed the Catholic judges Samuel Alito and John Roberts to the Supreme Court . 
Mr Bush belongs to a Methodist church in Texas and prays at an Episcopal church in Washington . 
However , it is thought unlikely that Mr Bush would convert until after he has left office . 
However , Mr Bush did not , as expected , kneel in prayer before the Grotto of the Madonna of Lourdes . 
Mr Bush has filled the White House with Catholic speech-writers and consultants and is also thought to have asked a Catholic priest to bless the West Wing . 
Mr Bush prayed with Benedict in the Oval Office during the Papal visit to the US in April . 
Several Italian newspapers cited Vatican sources suggesting that Mr Bush may be prepared to convert . 
One source told Il Foglio , an authoritative newspaper , that "Anything is possible , especially for a born-again Christian such as Bush ." 
Mr Bush has spoken out against gay marriage , abortion and stem cell research .
A source close to the Vatican said that Mr Bush was the most "Catholic-minded" president since John F Kennedy , who famously played down his Catholicism . 
[TGT] and Pope Benedict XVI have held an intimate meeting in Rome as rumours mounted in Italy that the president may follow in Tony Blair 's footsteps and convert to Catholicism . 
However , George William Rutler , a New York-based priest who is close to the president , was quoted by the Washington Post earlier this year saying that Mr Bush "is not unaware of how evangelism , by comparison with Catholicism , may seem more limited both theologically and historically" . 
The usual protocol for heads-of-state is a meeting in the pope 's library in the Apostolic Palace , but a spokesman for the Vatican said Benedict wanted to reward Mr Bush for the "warmth" of his reception at the White House earlier this year . 
The two men have grown increasingly close in the past two years , and Mr Bush was overheard whispering : "What an honour , what an honour , what an honour !" 
Mr Bush appointed the Catholic judges Samuel Alito and John Roberts to the Supreme Court . 
Mr Bush belongs to a Methodist church in Texas and prays at an Episcopal church in Washington . 
However , it is thought unlikely that Mr Bush would convert until after he has left office . 
However , Mr Bush did not , as expected , kneel in prayer before the Grotto of the Madonna of Lourdes . 
Mr Bush has filled the White House with Catholic speech-writers and consultants and is also thought to have asked a Catholic priest to bless the West Wing . 
Mr Bush prayed with Benedict in the Oval Office during the Papal visit to the US in April . 
Several Italian newspapers cited Vatican sources suggesting that Mr Bush may be prepared to convert . 
One source told Il Foglio , an authoritative newspaper , that "Anything is possible , especially for a born-again Christian such as Bush ." 
Mr Bush has spoken out against gay marriage , abortion and stem cell research .