The Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern is meeting the Pope in Rome today to brief him on progress in the peace process.
Pope Benedict XVI had asked to be updated on progress in the North ahead of a major push tomorrow for a return to the power-sharing administration.
Speaking from Rome today, Mr Ahern said: "Basically I'm here to discuss a number of issues, primarily the issue to do with the peace process in Northern Ireland.
"I understand the Pope wished to be briefed as to where we are at this moment in time," he said.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are to meet the main parties at Stormont tomorrow.
It is anticipated that both leaders will reassert their threat to remove pay and allowances if no deal is struck to have the devolved assembly back up and running by their November 24th deadline.
A timetable is to be laid out for assembly members to work through towards a settlement.