VATICAN, November 26 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pope Francis met in the Vatican on Monday for one-on-one talks that were expected to focus on the ongoing civil war in Syria.

Putin’s spokesman said the meeting appears to go very well and that the encounter lasted twice as long as had been planned.

Putin and the pontiff exchanged gifts, and the pope asked the Russian leader to send his regards to Patriarch Kirill, who heads the Russian Orthodox Church.

Relations between the two churches have been strained over a few issues that have prevented the churches’ leaders from meeting. The Moscow Patriarchate has in particular accused the Vatican of trying to lead believers away from the Russian Church – an accusation the Roman Catholics have denied.