The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI has received a letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Vatican did not release the contents of the message. But the website of the Iranian presidency said Saturday that Ahmadinejad had called for cooperation by "divine religions" against secularism.

The website said he also thanked Benedict for his stance against a Florida pastor who had threatened to burn the Quran on the 9/11 anniversary. The pope and other Christian leaders urged the pastor to reconsider his plans, which he eventually called off.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the pontiff received the letter during a brief meeting with one of Iran's vice presidents at the end of his weekly general audience Wednesday.