Vatican says Pope did not lecture Tony Blair

Benedict XVI's spokesman insists that meeting with outgoing Prime Minister was 'friendly', report Freddy Gray and Edward Pentin
IN AN INTERVIEW with The Catholic Herald the director of the Vatican Press Office has played down reports of a heated argument between Tony Blair and Church leaders during the outgoing Prime Minister's farewell visit to Rome.
It was widely alleged that the outgoing Prime Minister had received a "stem lecture" over his =oaf in office following his audience with Pope Benedict XVI last Saturday. But Fr Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican Press Office, told the Herald on Tuesday that the conversation had been an "open and sincere discussion without any hostile or acrimonious overtones. It was not a tense atmosphere at all but one that was very calm and friendly."
Fr Lombardi said that the British Press had misread the meaning of the words franca confront° widely translated as -frank exchange" in the Vatican's official statement.
The phrase was interpreted as a diplomatic term meaning "heated argument" in light of the Church's fierce opposition to Mr Blair's invasion of Iraq.
Yet the Vatican spokesman insisted that the word confront° meant discussion, not confrontation.
"Sometimes we use this word, sometimes another word," he said. "You cannot always say the meetings were cordial and friendly, even when they were."
Fr Lombardi reiterated this point in a letter to the fines on Wednesday. He told The Herald that the main subjects discussed during the meeting were "inter-religious dialogue and engagement in Middle East peace".
The Pope also "expressed the Holy Sec's appreciation" for Mr Blair's achievements in the peace process in Ireland, said Fr Lombardi.
Furthermore. he went on. the Benedict XVI applauded the Mr Blair's endeavours to promote poverty relief in Africa. Fr Lombardi confirmed that the Pope did not attend a separate discussion between Mr Blair and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations with stars.
In this meeting the Church did express its concerns over Britain's record on issues such as stem-cell research and abortion.
During his audience with Benedict XVI, Mr Blair gave the Pope three original pictures of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
The valuable images, one signed by Newman himself, were donated by the Fathers of the Brompton Oratory in Birmingham.
Contrary to reports that the present was a hint that Mr Blair would, like Newman, convert to Catholicism, the gift was reportedly given to make up for last year's offering some books, a set of Mozart compact discs and a pair of silver cufflinks which apparently left Vatican officials unimpressed.
The Pontiff, a long-time admirer of the writings of Cardinal Newman, appeared pleased as he laid eyes on the gift.
On the same day as his meeting with the Pontiff, Mr Blair had lunch at Rome's Venerable English College. The main purpose of the event, hosted by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, was for senior Vatican figures to advise the outgoing Prime Minister on interfaith relations from a Catholic perspective.
After leaving 10 Downing Street Mr Blair intends to establish a global organisation for interfaith dialogue.
Cardinal Cormac MulphyO'Connor's press office described the atmosphere at the lunch as "very warm".