Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt told Pope Benedict XVI on Monday that her religious faith had helped her survive a six-year ordeal in the jungle.
She was rescued by the Colombian army on July 2, after more than six years in the hands of the Marxist guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). She was snatched in 2002, shortly after announcing her intention to run for the Colombian presidency. Soon after her release Betancourt expressed a wish to meet the pope, who has made repeated appeals for an end to kidnappings in Colombia.
Benedict met Betancourt's mother Yolanda Pulecio in February and told her he was praying for her daughter, who is a devout Catholic.
Betancourt spent more than 20 minutes with the pope at his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, just outside Rome.
Vatican sources said Betancourt was very ''moved'' during the meeting, telling the pope about her ''spiritual experience'' during her years of captivity.
She was accompanied by her mother, her sister and two nephews.
Shortly after her release, Betancourt told reporters that she had recited the rosary during each day of her ordeal.
On Tuesday, the French-Colombian politician will meet Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
She is also due to visit House Speaker Gianfranco Fini, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and the opposition Democratic Party leader Walter Veltroni during her trip to Italy.
She will travel to Florence to receive honorary citizenship of the Tuscan capital on Wednesday, September 3.
