Bomb goes off outside French church in Rome

A homemade bomb has exploded outside a French church in Rome, Italy, ahead of a visit by French President Francois Hollande to the city.

The small explosive device went off in Vicolo della Campana in central Rome on Friday, damaging at least five cars. There have been no immediate reports of human casualties.

“A handmade bomb went off at 2.30 a.m. (1:30 GMT), damaging three parked cars and the windows of a nearby building. There has been no claim of responsibility,” a police spokesperson told AFP.

The French embassy in the Vatican said the incident could be linked to Hollande’s visit to the city as it happened shortly before he was due to meet with the Pope at the Holy See.

“One of the theories is that this act was linked to the visit by the president,” an official at the embassy said.

Hollande will hold his first meeting with Pope Francis later on Friday as he faces the wrath of French Catholics over a range of government policies.

According to reports, a petition signed by almost 115,000 French Catholics called on the Pope to raise their “deep unease and growing concern” with Hollande over policies such as the legalization of abortion and gay marriages, and moves toward legalizing assisted suicide and surrogacy.

Hollande and the Pope are also expected to discuss other issues, including the crisis in Syria, environmental issues, and the promotion of social justice.