US President Barack Obama has promised the Pope that he will try to reduce the number of abortions in the United States.

President Barack Obama has had his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

A Vatican spokesman says they discussed the “defence and the promotion of life” and that the President has promised the Pope he will try to limit the number of abortions in America.

They also discussed sensitive bioethics matters, Middle East peace and the situation in Honduras and Cuba.

First Lady Michelle Obama and the two Obama daughters also spent time with the Pope.

In a surprise move, the pontiff gave Mr Obama a booklet explaining Vatican opposition to practices such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research, which Mr Obama supports.

“Mr Obama told the pope of his commitment to reduce the number of abortions and of his attention and respect for the positions of the Catholic Church,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said.

Mr Obama supports abortion rights and says his policy is to change economic and social conditions so as to put more women in situations where they do not feel they have to have an abortion.