Hollande meets with Pope Francis amid affair rumor

Pope Francis AP

VATICAN CITY—French President Francois Hollande has arrived at the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Francis amid tensions in his private life over a gossip magazine’s report about an alleged affair.

In a break with tradition, Vatican Television covered his arrival Friday live.

Hours before the arrival, a small homemade bomb exploded in front of a French foundation that works with the French Embassy to the Holy See. The Carabinieri military police said no one was injured, but that a few windows of the palazzo were shattered and that three cars parked on the street outside were damaged.

Police said it wasn’t clear if the bomb was related to Holland’s visit or the foundation.

Hollande has acknowledged “painful moments” in his relationship with Valerie Trierweiler.

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