PRESIDENT OF IRELAND PAYS VISIT TO HOLY FATHER

VATICAN CITY, FEB 12, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration at noon:

"The Holy Father this morning received Mrs. Mary McAleese, president of Ireland, together with her husband and entourage. Immediately afterwards, the president met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, His Holiness'secretary of state.

"In the course of the meetings, the current situation in Ireland and Europe was discussed.

"Special attention was given to the problem of peace in Ireland. Mrs. McAleese referred to the objectives already reached and to the prospects for the future. The Holy Father John Paul II expressed his satisfaction to the president for this path of reconciliation."

OP;VISIT;...;IRELAND; MCALEESE; NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;19990212;Word: 120;