The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, has met with Pope John Paul II in Rome as part of a series of celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Holy See.
Mr Ahern will also meet Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State. Ahead of his meeting the Minister said: "The 75th anniversary and my visit to the Holy See is an opportunity to underline the values common to Ireland and the Holy See in the international sphere".
"I am particularly honoured to have been invited to pay a call on His Holiness, Pope John Paul II."
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, speaking at a conference at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome yesterday, said the fundamental basis for good diplomatic relations depended on honesty, trust and transparency.
"Perhaps the time has come to speak more openly of what structures for `open, transparent and regular' dialogue between Church and State could be established in Ireland," he said.
Former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox also addressed the conference, using the opportunity to call for a more united Europe.
The Irish Embassy to the Holy See was established in 1929 and since then a total of 19 Heads of Mission have served there.