The formation of a powersharing government in Northern Ireland led by the Rev Ian Paisley with Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister would represent a "powerful Christian witness to the world" according to Pope Benedict.
In a private audience with President Mary McAleese in the Vatican yesterday, the pope told her that such a government would offer a good example of "Christians working out their problems in a very reconciliatory way".
Talking to reporters after her 34-minute audience with Pope Benedict in the pontifical library, President McAleese explained: "The pope was very encouraging about the Irish peace process.
"He made the point that, if, as we all hope, the Rev Dr Paisley next week becomes first minister along with deputy first minister Martin McGuinness, that he felt very strongly that this would be such a powerful Christian witness . . . to the ongoing problems in the Balkans and the Middle East, both of which have got religious components. The pope made the point that here were Christians giving very, very good witness as to what was possible in terms of reconciliation after long, long years of mutual distrust."
Pope Benedict also expressed his support and encouragement for the structured dialogue between the churches, a dialogue initiated by the Irish Government.
"The pope is very taken with the fact that Ireland is the first country to initiate such a dialogue and he hopes that the Irish experience will act as a prototype for other European countries," said the President.
The pope went on to register his approval of the first Irish White Paper on Development Aid. "That White Paper starts by acknowledging the huge work that has been done in the name of Ireland, in particular by Irish missionaries, over the years in developing countries. With Irish aid at €1.5 billion, there is a growing opportunity for the Irish missionary endeavour to work in partnership with NGOs, the church and the Government. The pope was very taken with the White Paper," the President said.
The President also met the secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. He and the pope expressed their optimism about the church in Ireland, the President said: "Both men said that in every period of church life in the 2,000 years of its history, there have been periods of phenomenal growth and dynamism and there have also been valley periods. The pope feels very strongly that we are emerging from a valley period."
The President revealed that Pope Benedict has not ruled out a pastoral visit to Ireland. "Now, he didn't say that he was coming - I have to be clear about that - but he said that we will have to see what is possible."