Blair meets Pope to stoke conversion speculation

VATICAN CITY, June 23 (Reuters) British Prime Minister Tony Blair held private talks with Pope Benedict today, stoking speculation he might convert to Catholicism after he steps down next week.

Blair's gift to the Pope were original photographs of John Henry Newman, a 19th century Anglican leader who was one of Britain's most illustrious converts to Catholicism.

Blair, on the final leg of his farewell world tour, spoke privately with the Pope for 25 minutes in the pontiff's study and the talks were then enlarged to include Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, head of England's Roman Catholics.

A Vatican statement made no reference to the issue of possible conversion of Blair who is Anglican. Blair's wife, Cherie, and their four children are Catholics.

Cherie accompanied Blair to the Vatican and was introduced to the Pope with the British delegation at the end of the private talks. She wore a black dress and a black veil.

Pope and Blair discussed the international situation, Europe and the West Asia, the statement said. The Vatican welcomed Blair's intention to work for West Asia peace and inter-religious dialogue after he steps down on Wednesday.

In an interview with the Times Magazine today, Blair indicated his conversion may not be just around the corner.

Asked if he would convert, Blair said: ''I don't want to talk about it. It's difficult with some of these things. Things aren't always as resolved as they might be.'' The Blairs gave the Pope a frame containing three period photographs of Newman, who died in 1890. One was signed.

Newman converted in 1845 and was later made a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1991 he was declared ''venerable'', putting him on the road to Roman Catholic sainthood.

The Guardian newspaper cited informed sources yesterday as saying Blair had been prepared for conversion by a Royal Air Force chaplain who had said private mass for his family for the last four years.

Blair is believed to have taken communion from the late Pope John Paul during a visit to the Vatican in 2003, although the Vatican has never confirmed this.

After the Pope welcomed Blair into the study, the prime minister told him he had just flown in from the European summit in Brussels where European Union leaders clinched agreement on on a mandate to overhaul the 27-nation bloc.

''I heard it was very successful,'' the Pope told Blair.

''Yes, but it was a very long night. We finished up at 5:30 in the morning,'' Blair said.

Reuters AK GC1744