Pope won't visit before Christmas, says Ahern

POPE BENEDICT XVI is unlikely to consider the possibility of a papal visit to Ireland until after Christmas at the earliest, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said after meeting the Pontiff at the Vatican yesterday morning.

Mr Ahern said he and the Pope had discussed church-state relations, the European Constitution and the current political situation in the North during their 20-minute meeting in the private library of the papal residence, the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.

The Taoiseach did not become aware of the London bombing atrocity until after his meetings with the Pope and the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Sodano.