President Barack Obama will visit Vatican City in March to meet Pope Francis, whom he has praised as an "eloquent" spokesman on the scourge of inequality -- a key issue in his own political agenda.

The White House said Obama would travel to see the pontiff on March 27, following stops in the Netherlands for a nuclear security summit and talks with European Union leaders in Brussels.

"The President looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality," the White House said in a statement Tuesday.