Censored: Rome Covers Up Nude Statues For Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s Visit

Pope Francis held talks with Iran’s president at the Vatican Tuesday, calling on Tehran to play a key role in stopping the spread of terrorism as Iran tries to improve its image in the global arena following an agreement on its nuclear program.

Italian museums in Rome covered up statues displaying nudity using wooden cartons ahead of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit for major investment deals, Italian daily The Local reported.

President Hassan Rouhani brought the pope a red-toned carpet, about 80 cms (32 inches) by 1.2 meters (4 feet) and explained that the rug was hand-made in the Holy City of Qhom.

The private, 40-minute encounter with the pope came midway into Rouhani’s packed agenda on his four-day visit to Italy and France, where he is trying to re-establish trade and business ties after years of crippling sanctions. Those sanctions have recently been lifted as part of a deal that Rouhani championed, arguing since his 2013 election that it’s in his nation’s best interest to resolve the issue and become more involved in world economic and political affairs. It was also the first time an Iranian president has travelled to Europe in 16 years.

As the entourage was leaving the papal library, the pope told the president, “Thank you for this visit”.

Francis can help promote the “thaw in diplomatic relations between Iran and other countries”, much as he did with Cuba and the USA, the Rev. Bernardo Cervellera, editor of the Rome-based Asia News, told The Wall Street Journal. In addition to his meeting with St. John Paul II in 1999, Khatami also attended St. John Paul’s funeral in 2005.

On Monday, the Iranian leader struck a deal with Saipem, an oil services group. Pope Francis also gave President Rouhani a copy of encyclical Laudato Si, which is an appeal from Pope Francis addressed to “every person living on this planet” to talk about shaping the future of the world. The pope said he hoped that the Iranian deal would “contribute to creating a climate of détente in the region”.

Before he stopped by Rome’s Capitoline Museum on Tuesday, staffers covered up the nude sculptures with panels to shield them from view.

During his visit to Rome on Monday, Rouhani toured the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums), accompanied by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Rouhani has described the political talks leading to the nuclear deal as a potential blueprint for pursuing peace in the Middle East.