Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, pictured, asked Pope Francis to pray for him. Photo: Wikipedia.

Iran’s president asked Pope Francis to pray for him Tuesday after the two men held private talks at the Vatican, part of an Iranian effort to take a more prominent place on the world stage after a nuclear deal with Western powers.

Hassan Rouhani’s visit to the Holy See saw the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian president since 1999. Iran, which agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an end to economic sanctions, is eager to carve out a bigger role in mediating Middle East conflicts. Francis’ papacy has been marked by mediation and conflict resolution.

Read full story at The Associated Press.