President Bush broke protocol Friday for an informal meeting with Pope Benedict.

Bush made the stop in Paris as part of his week-long tour in Europe.

Usually, the pope meets with guests in his personal library, but made an exception for the president. Bush was shown the lush Vatican gardens and given a rare peek of the spot where Benedict goes to pray.

The two leaders are said to have a strong bond. This meeting marked their third.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said they discussed issues like human rights, AIDS in Africa and poverty around the world.

After his visit with the pope, President Bush prepared for dinner with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.