Margaret Thatcher Meets Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican
THE TELEGRAPH: Baroness Thatcher, whose first Papal visit was more than 30 years ago, has been introduced to Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

Lady Thatcher encouraged the Pope to accept the invitation from Gordon Brown to visit Britain. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
The meeting took place after the Pope's weekly audience in St Peter's Square. Lady Thatcher, was dressed in black as she had been on her first visit in 1977, with a dark handbag and star shaped brooch.

They talked for several minutes and Lady Thatcher encouraged the Pope to accept the invitation from Gordon Brown to visit Britain. The first Pope to visit Britain was John Paul II who came in 1982 at the time of the Falklands War.

Before she met the Pope Lady Thatcher laid a wreath of white roses on the tomb in the Vatican of John Paul II with a card which said: " To a man of faith and courage." Lady Thatcher's relationship with the former Polish cardinal was politically close. >>> By Andrew Pierce | Wednesday, May 27, 2009

THE TELEGRAPH: Baroness Thatcher to Meet Pope Benedict XVI at Vatican

Baroness Thatcher is to have a private audience with the Pope at the Vatican next week.

Their meeting will come more than 30 years after Lady Thatcher first travelled to the Vatican. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
The former Prime Minister is flying to Italy on Frdiay to stay with Carla Powell whose husband Charles was her foreign policy adviser at Downing Street.

Lady Powell, who lives in a villa on the outskirts of Rome, arranged the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI which will take place in the Vatican on Wednesday. >>> By Andrew Pierce | Friday, May 22, 2009