The Taoiseach will travel to Rome this week to become one of the first political leaders to meet Pope Benedict XVI.
Mr Ahern will have a private audience with the Pope in the Vatican on Thursday and will meet the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, to discuss Northern Ireland, developments in the European Union and other international issues.
The meeting will come a week after the Government decided to approve a "structured dialogue" with the churches and faith communities, a concept that has been sought at national and EU level by European churches.
The draft EU constitutional treaty provides for such communication with the churches.
"Recognising their identity and their specific contribution, the Union shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with these churches and organisations", the constitution says.
In a statement yesterday the Government said it had decided to proceed with setting up such a dialogue at national level, "despite the current position on the treaty, in recognition of the valued role of the churches and faith communities in civil society".