Pope Francis Meets With Apple's Tim Cook

Pope Francis had a brief meeting with Tim Cook.

The head of the Catholic Church sat down Friday for approximately 15 minutes with the Apple CEO, beginning at 11:30 a.m. local time, reports ABC News.

It is not known what the leaders discussed at the Vatican.

However, their meeting was scheduled in the midst of a national debate regarding civil unions in Italy. The same day he met with the gay tech leader, Francis spoke to a Vatican court about how he envisioned "God's dream" of a marriage.

"There can be no confusion between the family God wants and any other type of union," he said. "The family, founded on indissoluble matrimony that unites and allows procreation, is part of God's dream and that of his Church for the salvation of humanity."

Following this statement, tens of thousands filled Italy's streets Saturday to show their support for civil unions. The Senate is to begin debate a bill on the issue Thursday.

Cook came out in 2014, becoming one of the most influential out leaders in the world. In an op-ed for Business Week, he proclaimed, "I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."

Since his coming out, Cook has expressed views on marriage equality that differ sharply from those of the pope. When the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage to be a constitutional right in June 2015, Cook called it "a victory for equality, perseverance and love."

Cook also quoted the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs: "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."