The Vatican Secretariat of State has indicated that an invitation extended by Ireland's bishops to Pope John Paul to visit the island a second time had "in principle been accepted".
An upbeat Catholic Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop Seán Brady, said in a statement yesterday "we are delighted with this response, and hope this visit will take place".
He added that a date was "yet to be decided, but given the commitments of the Holy Father for the remainder of the year, it would seem reasonable to conclude at this stage that a visit in 2004, while not ruled out, is rather unlikely.
"The programme of places to be visited has yet to be prepared and agreed," he said.
Last night, however, a Church source was at pains to point out it was "not guaranteed" a second visit to Ireland would take place.
This was in response to some news reports yesterday that the Pope was now expected to visit Ireland again. There was a cautious note also from a Vatican spokesman who was quoted in agency reports as saying Pope John Paul still had "no plans to visit Ireland for the moment".
Yet there was no mistaking the positive tone of Archbishop Brady, who said yesterday that "the response that I and my fellow bishops and priests have already received from the laity regarding a return visit clearly demonstrates to us that the Irish people would warmly welcome the Bishop of Rome once more into their midst.
"Now is the time to begin the preparation. A programme to mark the 25th anniversary [of the Pope's visit in 1979] is scheduled for September, with a major celebration in Clonmacnois on September 19th. A special message from the Holy Father has been requested for the occasion, and is eagerly awaited.
"The celebration will evoke many wonderful memories, and inspire many to do their utmost to ensure another memorable visit," he said.
Just one visit abroad is planned for Pope John Paul in the near future. He is to go to Lourdes on August 15th, feast of the Assumption, to mark the 150th anniversary of the promulgation of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.