Of course the Pope would have reminded Tony Blair of the fact that at all stages the Church had been opposed to the war against Iraq, and had warned that it would be disastrous.

Aside from everything else he would have been very conscious of the fate of the ancient Chaldean Catholic minority in Iraq. Since the invasion of Iraq is that life has got immeasurably worse for minority, to which one in 20 Iraqis belonged - now they are very largely in exile, or for those who haven't been forced/able to flee, they are living lives very much under threat.

It isn't just politics, it's people.