The peace process and ecumenism dominated President McAleese's Vatican audience yesterday with Pope John Paul II.
Speaking after her first audience with the Pope, the President said he was "very much alive and intellectually ferociously agile". The President's remarks provided a welcome contrast to the rumours that had swept Rome late on Thursday that the Pope had died, with even the US television station CNN on standby to issue a papal obituary. However, the Pope gave ample demonstration of his well-being by presiding over a televised Mass in St Peter's Basilica on Thursday evening.
A day which the President described as "remarkable" began with her cheerful but poised greeting to the Pope on the doorstep of the Pontifical Library in the Vatican: "It's lovely to see you . . .I heard that you had the 'flu last week, are you feeling a little better?" The Pope merely nodded and said "Yes, Yes".
Afterward the door to the library was closed and the Pope and the President sat down for a 24-minute chat in English. Speaking afterward, the President said she was impressed with the Pope's willingness to talk.
"I had the impression of a man who was surprisingly strong. Like so many people I have watched him especially in recent times . . .yet as he pointed out to me himself today, he said he should have died in 1981 (the Mehmet Ali Agca attack in St Peter's Square) but he didn't.
"He feels that he has lived for a purpose and to a purpose. He is a very happy and contented man, and although he is clearly showing his age and the effects of some of the things he has suffered, the strength of the intellect, the strength of his analysis of the world is quite remarkable . . .".
The President said she was surprised at how well-briefed the Pope was on the Northern Ireland peace process. She added that some of his observations were similar to those made to her later in the day by President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, whom she visited in the Quirinale Palace. The Pope and President Scalfaro had both underlined that the way forward for the world was through dialogue and consensus.
Both the President and the Pope are due to have meetings today with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, and the President emphasised the importance that the Pope attaches to ecumenical dialogue. "The Pope said that we are 30 years into an ecumenical journey, a slow journey. The sense that came across from him today was one of complete commitment to that journey.
The Pope and President Scalfaro, again struck similar notes, according to the President, in pointing out that the "new modern progressive Ireland" is a source of hope to those (mainly East European) countries which hope to join the European Union under the enlargement process.
After her audience, the President presented the Pope with an Irish linen batik, designed by Irish artist Bernadette Madden. She was given a pontifical medal. The President then introduced the Pope to her husband, Martin, and to members of her delegation, including the Minister for Health, Dr Michael Woods and his wife, Margo, as well as the Irish Ambassador to the Holy See, Eamonn O Tuathail.
Later the President met the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano who greeted her with: "Good news from Ireland, country of peace". Their conversation also touched on women's role in the Catholic Church, as well as the Middle East, the Basque country, Mexico and the recent death of King Hussein of Jordan.
The President described it as both "humbling" and "reassuring" to know that world leaders and "people of enormous seriousness of purpose" were also looking to Ireland for leadership via the peace process. The President, who returns to Ireland tonight, also addressed the conference of missionary organisations (SEDOS) and attended a reception in the Irish Embassy to the Holy See.