US Secretary of State holds talks with Mattarella, Conte and Pope Francis.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Rome's Ciampino airport on 1 October, on his first official visit to Italy.

Pompeo's first appointment was with Italian president Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal presidential palace on the afternoon of 1 October.

The meeting, which was also attended by Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio, was followed by talks between Pompeo and Italian premier Giuseppe Conte.

Pompeo, who is of Italian heritage, is scheduled to have a private audience with Pope Francis on 2 October before visiting the Abruzzo region of his ancestors.

Pompeo will then travel on to Montenegro, North Macedonia and Greece.