McAleese to visit Belgium ahead of meeting with Pope
President McAleese is paying a state visit to Belgium and Italy next week ahead of a meeting with the Pope.
The head of state’s five-day trip also includes a courtesy call on King of Belgium, Albert II and an address at the Louvain Institute which is marking its 400th anniversary.
Mrs McAleese will also visit the new Tourism Ireland offices in Brussels and attend a business breakfast event hosted by Enterprise Ireland.
Travelling on to Italy, the President will visit an Italian-Irish business dinner in Milan and visit Bobbio Abbey, founded by St Columbanus in the seventh century.
In Rome, the Mrs McAleese is due to meet Italian president Giorgio Napoletano.
The visit will culminate with a call on Pope Benedict XVI on Friday. A meeting with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State is also scheduled.
She will also address the EU Bishops’ Conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.
A visit to the Pontifical Irish College and the Dominican Community in Rome is also included in the itinerary.
Mrs McAleese, who will be accompanied by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese will return to Dublin on Friday evening.
