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Vatican City, 24th June 2007 (CNA) - Tony
Blair, the Prime Minister of England met yesterday in the Vatican with His
Holiness Benedict XVI. The Prime Minister had been vacationing for the week
in Italy, and had also met with his counterpart, Romano Prodi, President of
the Italian Council.
According to BBC new service, the two discussed the challenges of
globalization, as well as the need to combat terrorism. A Downing Street
representative said: "One of the themes of discussion was how the moderate
voices in all the world's major religions need to stand up to religious
extremism in all its forms."
Some viewed the meeting with Benedict as confirmation that Blair intended to
convert from the Church of England to the Roman Catholic Church; however, a
statement released today by the Vatican after the meeting made no such
mention of the issue.
Tony Blair’s wife, Cherie, and four children are Catholic. While Blair is
Anglican, he regularly attends Mass with his wife and children.
During the meeting, Blair gave Pope Benedict three pictures of Cardinal John
Henry Newman. Newman was a 19th Century Anglican leader who converted to
Catholicism and was later made a Cardinal. His cause for sainthood is
currently being studied.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Bishop of Westminster, was also present
at the meeting.
Speculation regarding Blair’s potential conversion has grown since the
British newpaper The Times reported that Fr. Sheed, who has welcomed other
prominent figures into the Catholic Church, told friends recently that he
expected Blair to make public his conversion once he officially steps down
from office June 27.
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