Former British premier Margaret Thatcher met briefly with Pope Benedict XVI at the end of his weekly general audience in St Peter's square on Wednesday.
The pope walked towards Thatcher at the end of his audience, shaking hands and chatting with her for a few minutes.
In keeping with diplomatic protocol, Baroness Thatcher wore a black dress and and veil.
She was accompanied by an unidentified gentleman who also exchanged words with the German pontiff.
The British media reported last week that Thatcher was expected in Rome last Friday as guest of Carla Powell whose husband Charles was her foreign policy adviser at Downing Street.
Lady Powell lives in a villa on the outskirts of Rome.
Thatcher was prime minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative party from 1975 to 1990, the only woman to have held either post.
The former prime minister's father was a Methodist lay preacher and Thatcher has talked about the influence of a Methodist uppringing.
