Did he steal your ring, too, Your Holiness?
Notorious international jewelry swiper Vladimir Putin got a pickpocket eye’s look at one of the world’s most famous rings Monday when he had a private meeting at the Vatican with Pope Francis.
But this time, Putin — who once walked off with a diamond-encrusted Super Bowl ring from the stunned owner of the New England Patriots — was in a giving mood.
During the fence-mending diplomatic mission, he presented Francis with an image of the Madonna of Vladimir, a treasured religious icon for the Russian Orthodox faithful.
Francis returned the favor by giving Putin a ceramic mosaic of the Vatican Gardens.
Putin, 61, — who was an atheist until the age of 40 — then crossed himself and kissed the image of the Madonna.
Francis blessed the icon with his right hand while wearing the gold-plated silver “fisherman’s ring” he received when he was installed as pontiff in March.
Putin’s 35-minute private audience was described by a Vatican spokesman as “quite a cordial and constructive meeting” that touched on Syria and other weighty matters.
The Post reported earlier this year that in 2005, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and other American businessmen were visiting Russia when Kraft took off his ring to show an admiring Putin.
Before the flabbergasted Kraft could say anything, Putin pocketed the 4.94 carat, 124-diamond ring, which was estimated to be worth $25,000.
Putin denied in July that he had stolen the ring. The diplomatic Kraft claimed publicly it was a gift to the Kremlin leader. With Post Wires