On a trip to Italy and France to boost economic times after the nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The meeting is a sign of improved European-Iranian ties as Rouhani attempts to bring his country out of economic and political isolation. During meetings with Italian officials, Rouhani emphasized his desire to recover from the era of sanctions that damaged his country’s economy and relationship with European countries.

The last time an Iranian president met with the pope was 16 years ago in 1999 when former President Mohammad Khatami met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. While Khatami’s “Dialogue of Civilizations” never came to full fruition, Rouhani has picked up the mantle of attempting to reduce tensions with European countries and establishing cooperation with the promise of enduring ties.

Rouhani left Tehran for Europe Jan. 25. He told reporters that his main goal would be to improve ties with countries that Iran had positive ties with before the nuclear sanctions. Iran faced nearly 10 years of increasingly more stringent UN Security Council resolutions, including United States and European Union sanctions over its nuclear program.

Rouhani, who was accompanied by six of his ministers and a number of advisers, said his focus on this trip would be to expand ties in the fields of industry, universities, agriculture, tourism, and medical and environmental equipment. Rouhani’s Vice President Eshag Jahangiri remained behind in Tehran to continue negotiations with the Guardian Council over the disqualification of parliamentary candidates for the February elections.