President to meet Pope John Paul

President Eddie Fenech Adami leaves for Rome today for an audience with Pope John Paul II tomorrow.

He will also meet Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State.

Dr Fenech Adami has met the Pope on several occasions when he was Prime Minister, both in Malta and at the Vatican.

Dr Fenech Adami will today be paying a courtesy call on Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. He is also due to make a courtesy call on Fra Andrew Bertie, Prince and Grandmaster of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. The Grand Master will bestow upon the President the Collar of the Order Pro Merito Melitense.

The President will be accompanied by Mrs Fenech Adami, John Dalli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment, Edward Melillo, Malta's ambassador to Italy, and Jimmy Farrugia, ambassador to the Holy See.

Dr Fenech Adami returns on Saturday.