US. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta continued his week-long European tour in Rome on Wednesday (January 16) meeting with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.

Panetta had previously met with Italy's Defense Minister Gianpaolo Di Paola and, then with Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi and President Giorgio Napolitano.

Earlier he met with Pope Benedict at the Vatican, greeting the pontiff after the weekly general audience.

The trip marks Panetta's last international tour in his role as head of the Pentagon.

-Reuters