Rome  - Pope Benedict XVI will receive US President Barack Obama in early July, around the time of the upcoming Group of Eight (G8) summit in Italy, diplomatic sources said.

Italian media reports cited both Vatican and US sources as confirming that preparations for the first-ever meeting between Benedict and Obama were underway.

The exact date is not yet certain, with Italian media saying a possible point for an audience would be July 10, after the three-day G8 summit set for July 8 to 10 in La Maddalena. (dpa)