There is no advance information as to whether or not the President, Mrs McAleese will wear a mantilla, or indeed any head covering, when she meets Pope John Paul in Rome in two weeks' time. Her predecessor, Mary Robinson didn't and caused a small uproar. The President leaves for Italy on February 8th, on an official, as opposed to a State visit. In Florence she will deliver the Jean Monnet lecture at the European University Institute, where Paddy Masterson, formerly of UCD is president, and she will also attend a meeting of the World Community for Christian Meditation in a nearby monastery.
In Rome the next day she attends a reception for the Irish community, visits religious orders and the Irish College and on the Friday has an audience with the Pope. There's also a lunch hosted by President Scalfaro in the Quirinal Palace and a reception in honour of the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Sodano. On Saturday, she will visit the Anglican Centre where she will meet the Archbishop of Canterbury Arch- bishop George Carey who is also visiting Rome. The President's next trip is a State visit to Mexico at the beginning of April which may include a side-trip to one of the Central American countries devastated by Hurricane Mitch before Christmas.