Pope John Paul II yesterday said that Ireland, with its "outstanding patrimony of spiritual and cultural values", had an essential role to play in the building of the new Europe.
The Pope made his comments during a brief address to the President, Mrs McAleese, during a private audience in the Vatican.
Looking frail but alert, the Pope was seated and waiting for the President at 11 a.m. yesterday. He stretched out both arms to offer her an obviously warm welcome.
After a 10-minute private audience, the Pope then read an official greeting in which he touched on one of the issues most dear to him, namely the Christian identity of the new enlarged Europe.
"Ireland, with its rich Christian history and its outstanding patrimony of spiritual and cultural values, has an essential role to play in the building of the new Europe and the affirmation of its deepest identity.
"It is my hope that the Gospel message will provide continued inspiration and encouragement to all who are committed to the advancement of Ireland in the path of justice and solidarity, and above all in the great work of national reconciliation."
Mrs McAleese confirmed that she and the Pope had discussed Northern Ireland.
"He wanted to know how things were going with the peace process and I told him they were going reasonably well and that we were looking forward to the outcome of the elections, layering up step by step towards a complete normalisation of life north of the border and a complete normalisation of relationships on the island."
The President stressed her gratitude to the Pope for his warm welcome, notwithstanding his health.
"I found him considerably changed since I was here four years ago [February 1999\] and it's actually quite hard to accept it in some ways. He has to fight so hard for every word that you become very conscious that even his meeting you is a great act of generosity. He makes every effort to make you feel welcome although I am sure he doesn't feel all that well himself."
She said: "As he always does, he mentioned his trip to Ireland in 1979. Rather poignantly, I thought, he said, 'I remember Limerick, I remember leaving Limerick for America' and then he said, 'But I was young then'."
Mrs McAleese is on a three-day visit primarily to attend celebrations on the 375th anniversary of the Pontifical Irish College.