Please find below the unabridged text of the release issued today by the Newsroom of the Holy See after Benedict XVI’s meeting with the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.
This morning, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience H.E. Mrs Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, accompanied by her husband and her suite. Then, the President was also received by the Secretary of State of His Holiness, Card. Tarcisio Bertone. During the meetings that took place in a climate of great friendliness, they spoke of the problems of the state of the Church in Ireland and in particular the favourable start of the "Structured Dialogue" between the State and the Churches in the spirit of the new European Constitutional Treaty as a promising way for a positive contribution of the Churches to the life of society. They also spoke of more general subjects, such as the building of Europe and its Christian roots, as well as the progress of the peacemaking process in Northern Ireland. Ireland’s commitment to disinterested aids for the development of the poorest countries of Africa through the White Paper on Aid was particularly appreciated and recognised.
