Freed hostage Betancourt meets Pope Benedict

Castelgandolfo: Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt met Pope Benedict on Monday in a private audience at his summer residence.

Betancourt had wanted to thank the Pope for the Vatican's support during her captivity.

Pope Benedict has repeatedly called on Colombian guerrillas to free all hostages.

She was rescued by the Colombian military in July after more than six years in the jungle held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.