UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Tuesday.

During his first encounter with the new pontiff, Mr Ban "will discuss the continuing cooperation between the UN and the Holy See", the UN chief's spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

Mr Ban is currently in Spain and is next expected to travel to The Hague in the Netherlands. While in Rome, Mr Ban will also meet with the country's president, prime minister and the heads of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

In a statement last month welcoming the election of former Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Mr Ban said he was certain Francis would "build on the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, in the promotion of inter-faith dialogue".