Blair tells Pope: I'm ready to become a Catholic

Published on Sunday 24 June 2007 00:59

TONY Blair told Pope Benedict XVI he will "dedicate himself" to peace in the Middle East and towards inter-religious dialogue in a private meeting between the pair in the Vatican yesterday.

The 25-minute meeting came amid further rumours that Blair will become a Roman Catholic as soon as he leaves office this week, and as reports suggested he is set to be appointed a Middle East envoy.

In a statement released after the meeting, the Vatican said there had been a "frank" assessment of the international situation, including such "delicate" themes as the Middle East conflict and the future of the European Union.

The Vatican opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, which Blair supported.

The statement said that Blair has expressed the desire "to dedicate himself in a particular way for peace in the Middle East and for interreligious dialogue".

Pope Benedict is understood to have wished Blair well in his venture, which has already been widely derided due to Blair's close support for the war in Iraq.

Blair's visit to the Pope came as he admitted in an interview yesterday that the issue of his religious beliefs was complex and that he was nervous about discussing his faith with the Pope.

"It's difficult with some of these things," Blair said. "Things aren't always as resolved as they might be."

Blair's wife Cherie is a Roman Catholic, the couple's children have attended Catholic schools and the Prime Minister habitually attends Catholic rather than Anglican services.

As for reports that Blair is on the verge of formally becoming a Catholic, a spokesman for the Prime Minister repeated the official line that "he remains a member of the Church of England".

Greeted by Pope Benedict, Blair explained that he had just arrived from an EU summit in Brussels.

"I heard it was very successful," the Pope said.

"Yes, we had a very long night. We finished at 5.30 in the morning," Blair replied.

He presented the Pope with three pictures of 19th-century English cardinal John Henry Newman, himself a convert to Catholicism from the Church of England.

Blair's commitment to the Pope to work for Middle East peace will be seen as a clear hint that he intends to take up a Middle East envoy role.

It has been suggested that US President George Bush wants Blair to take the job for the quartet of 'peacemakers': the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia.

Downing Street refused to comment on the reports.