Pope receives Italian Premier Berlusconi in the Vatican

(June 6, 2008) Pope Benedict XVI met Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi on Friday and the two reviewed several current issues affecting society and the Church in Italy. The Pope greeted Berlusconi as the Italian leader walked into the pope's library where the two, along with Berlusconi's right-hand man, Gianni Letta, talked for some 40 minutes. Later they also met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. A communiqué by the Holy See’s Press Office following the talks said the leaders reviewed the situation in Italy and the contribution of the Catholic Church to the country- themes that the Holy Father spoke about when he addressed the Italian Bishops’ Conference on May 29. Some issues regarding the Holy See-Italy accord were also taken up during the talks. The situation in the Middle East, and the spiritual, ethical and social development of the European continent were among the other issues touched upon in the talks.
Ahead of Friday’s visit, Berlusconi said that the Roman Catholic Church, which is often accused of interfering in Italy's domestic affairs, has a right to express its opinion. The church has always rejected any accusation of interference, saying it has a duty to intervene on ethical matters even though it does not take political sides before elections.
Berlusconi and the German pope had previously met at the Vatican in November 2005. Berlusconi, who was then premier, lost power in a 2006 election but returned to office earlier this year. His new coalition no longer includes the Christian Democratic Party that is very close to the Vatican, but shortly before Friday’s meeting Berlusconi said his government was on the side of the Church and that they believed in the values of the Christian tradition.