Pope John Paul II's proposed visit to Ireland next year remains a possibility, according to both the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Seán Brady, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern, writes Paddy Agnew in Rome.
Both Archbishop Brady and Mr Ahern met the Pope in Rome last week and both confirmed that it was still very possible that the ailing, 84-year-old Pope may yet visit Ireland next year.
The visit would probably take place in the late spring.
Mr Ahern had a 15-minute private audience with the Pope in the Vatican on Saturday morning during which the question of the papal visit was discussed.
"We talked about his possible visit to Ireland. He nodded but he didn't say yes or no. I think the reality is that these sort of decisions will be made as time goes on," the Minister said afterwards.
"I reminded him that the Government and the people of Ireland would very much welcome such a visit. I have to say, though, that I found the Pope in very good form, very alert and we talked about a number of issues, including the Middle East situation, given that I had just come back from Yasser Arafat's funeral," said the Minister.
Archbishop Brady met briefly with the Pope during a Vatican general audience last week and took the opportunity to reissue the Irish Bishops' invitation to visit Ireland.
"At that type of audience, you just pass in front of the Pope but I did say to him, 'Holy Father, I hope you will be able to return to Ireland'.
"He didn't say anything, he doesn't usually in those situations, but I am sure it is deep in his heart, that it is one of the things he would deeply like to do."
It still seems probable that the Pope's visit to Ireland, if it happens, will come next May or June and will be a two day, one overnight affair with the centre-piece of the trip a visit to Armagh.
Archbishop Brady, however, was keen to stress that no details for the trip have yet been fixed, pointing out that much obviously depends on the ailing Pope's state of health.