The Pope and the Croatian prime minister spoke privately for about ten minutes, after which Sanader introduced the members of the Croatian delegation.
Sanader thanked the Pope for receiving the Croatian delegation as the first foreign delegation since his release from hospital. The 84-year-old pontiff was in hospital from February 1 to 10 for respiratory problems.
After the audience with the Pope, Sanader met the Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, for talks on bilateral relations and the situation in Southeast Europe.
Sander told Croatian reporters that Sodano had expressed his full support for Croatia's efforts to join the European Union and for the start of membership talks on March 17.
"The Vatican has always supported Croatia's EU entry, which it proved by recognising Croatia as an independent state before other European countries did. It is now closely following Croatian negotiations with Brussels," Sanader said.
Although the Croatian prime minister was scheduled to open an exhibition in the Vatican Museums, he left after the talks for Brussels to meet Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker.