On an occasion rich in symbolic significance, Pope John Paul II yesterday received the Italian Prime Minister, ex-communist Massimo D'Alema, at a private audience in the Vatican.
For the first time, the head of what was once Western Europe's largest communist party was received in the Vatican by a Pope. Ironically, Mr D'Alema was received by the man who perhaps more than anyone else used his office and influence to bring down eastern bloc communism.
In a climate made informal by the presence of Mr D'Alema's wife, Linda, and his two children, 11-year-old Giuilia and eight-year-old Francesco, the Pope and Mr D'Alema laid to rest the bitter ideological divisions which have been such a dominant factor in post-war Italian political life.
Mr D'Alema, a self-confessed atheist, said afterwards: "When I arrived here this morning I was extremely tense but I was immediately put at my ease by the Holy Father's extraordinary capacity for direct, human contact."
After their 25-minute meeting, the two men exchanged gifts while the Prime Minister presented his family to the Pope.
As is customary, Mr D'Alema also met Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano. With the Pope, Mr D'Alema discussed major international issues while with Cardinal Sodano the talks ranged from church-state relations with reference to funding for private Catholic schools to preparations for Rome's Jubilee celebrations next year. They also touched on delicate legal and juridical matters raised by the continuing inquiry into allegations of usury against the Cardinal of Naples, Michele Giordano.
Commenting on the visit, senior Vatican spokesman Dr Joaquin Navarro-Valls said: "Today's talks focused on the great national and international issues of the day. Also touched on were, among other things, some matters of fundamental concern to Italian Catholics, such as scholastic parity via the funding of non-state schools, as well as more effective policies in favour of the family and a commitment [by the Italian government] to offer young people real work prospects."
Although he did not mention Cardinal Giordano he seemed to imply the issue had been aired when expressing the Vatican's hope that a joint Holy See-Italian State commission would help clarify church-state relations "in the light of recent events".
Mr D'Alema was the 14th Italian prime minister to be received in the Vatican by a Pope, with 11 of those 14 having been received by John Paul II himself in recognition of the ever closer and improved relations between the Catholic Church and the Italian state.