But, in talks lasting more than half an hour, the outgoing Prime Minister was left in no doubt that the Pope took a dim view of his record in office. A statement issued afterwards by the Vatican said there had been a 'frank exchange of views'.

This is highly unusual language for the Vatican, which habitually describes meetings between the pontiff and other heads of state and government as 'cordial'. 'Frank' is code for unstinting criticism.

My oh my. It looks like Pope Benedict believes that it might take more than a couple Hail Marys to wash the blood off of Tony Blair's hands. The blood of thousands of innocents. Children permanently maimed. Orphans. Mothers without their babies. Sisters who lost their brothers. Yes, war is a tough business. Not for the faint of heart. Not for saints.

Vatican sources said the Pope remained unmoved in his view that Blair had been wrong over Iraq. To an even greater extent than his predecessor, Benedict feels that Catholic politicians cannot separate their public lives from their private.

Meanwhile back at Downing Street, matters were well in hand, all "no comment" and rosy reassurances.

Downing Street declined to say whether the Pope expressed concern about Iraq.

... Downing Street said the two men had "positive" talks.

The spokesman would not comment on whether the Pope had expressed concern about the situation in Iraq - as he did during talks with US President George Bush earlier this month.

Nor would he comment on Mr Blair's widely-predicted conversion to Catholicism.

Maybe Tony had an inkling that his audience with the voice of God on Earth would be, shall we say, heated. Maybe some fuzzy notion entered Tony's head that he was about to be raked over the coals.

Speaking before his private audience with the Pope, he said the issue of his conversion to Catholicism was "unresolved".

Asked by the Times magazine if he would be converting, he said: "Things aren't always as resolved as they might be."

He said he was "nervous" discussing the issue before Saturday's meeting.

... Mr Blair said about the subject of conversion: "I don't want to talk about it. It's difficult with some of these things."

Sleep well, Tony. May your dreams be of sugarplums and treacle candy, all children safe and snug in their beds.

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