Giorgio Napolitano

The Italian Parliament elected Sergio Mattarella as the country's president on Saturday at its fourth attempt.

In the previous three rounds, which took place on Thursday and Friday, none of the candidates managed to gather two-thirds majority or 673 votes.

BELGRADE - Departing Italian President Giorgio Napolitano sent a letter to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic reading that Serbia belongs to Europe.

During its six-month presidency of the EU, Italy strongly supported Belgrade's European pathway, says the letter.

Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano has resigned, his office said on Wednesday.

"President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano signed his resignation letter this morning at 10:35," the presidential office said in a statement.

Serbian PM meets with Italian president

ROME -- Italian President Giorgio Napolitano received Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in Rome on Wednesday.

They discussed "the reforms Serbia had started," and, "the situation concerning the EU accession process."

ROME - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has met with representatives of a number of Italian companies to discuss investments in Serbia, Tanjug has been told by the prime minister's office.

Vucic also met with International Monetary Fund Director Christine Lagarde on Tuesday.

Vucic spoke to Geox, Ferrero and Cremonini corporate representatives.

BELGRADE - Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will visit Rome on Wednesday at an invitation from his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi, Tanjug learned from Vucic's office on Tuesday.

According to diplomatic sources, Vucic will meet Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Senate President Pietro Grasso as well while in Rome.

Photo Tanjug/D. Stankovic (archive)

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has been invited by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to visit Italy December 10, Tanjug has learned from diplomatic sources.

During his official visit to Rome, Serbia's prime minister will also meet with the country's president, Giorgio Napolitano and President of the Senate Pietro Grasso.

The legal status of religious communities, the role of religion in society, and ecumenical collaboration were at the focus of talks between Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday.

The US President Barack Obama was received by Pope Francis in The Vatican, in what was the first meeting between the two.

Despite various issues on which Obama and Pope Francis contradict, their talks were reported to have been dominated by topics of social justice and poverty, according to Euronews.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias is expected to meet with Pope Francis during a visit to Rome on Friday.

Papoulias is due in the Italian capital for a meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano.

The two men are due to inaugurate an exhibition of Italian and Greek antiquities.