Antonio Banderas enjoyed a very special meeting with Pope Francis I as he attended the weekly papal audience at the Vatican City on Wednesday. The actor, a devoted Catholic, was joined by his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel. Following the encounter, the star revealed on social media that he had enjoyed a "nice chat" with the Pope.
Antonio was pictured shaking hands with the Pope and asking his girlfriend to take a photo of the pair. The brief meeting clearly struck a chord with the 55-year-old Spaniard, as he later shared the snap on Twitter.
"Nice chat with Pope Francis before we start filming in #Rome. #vaticano #Italy," he wrote.
"Nice chat with Pope Francis," wrote the actor
The star also cuddled up to his girlfriend in a sweet selfie, which saw them pose among a sea of fellow well-wishers.
Antonio was dressed to impress for his meeting with the Catholic leader, looking slick in a black suit, slim tie and sunglasses. His pretty Dutch partner Nicole also opted for a monochrome look, wearing a smart blazer and gingham trousers.
Antonio Banderas and his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel cuddled up for a selfie
The pair were first linked in May 2014 after they met at a Cannes Film Festival afterparty. It wasn't until October that the couple were again spotted in Spain, where Antonio was filming a period drama.
Taking a break from shooting and walking hand-in-hand, Antonio and investment consultant Nicole enjoyed a romantic stroll in a nearby forest not far from the set.
The pair matched in slick monochrome looks
By this point Antonio, 55, had recently split from his wife Melanie Griffith, 58.
The pair released a statement, saying: "We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalise our almost twenty years marriage in a loving and friendly manner honouring and respecting each other, our family and friends and the beautiful time we have spent together – Melanie & Antonio."
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