Gordon Brown will visit the Vatican next week for an audience with the Pope

Mr Brown will talk to Pope Benedict XVI about the global financial crisis and the worldwide response to the economic meltdown. It was an open secret that Tony Blair planned to convert to Catholicism and his trips to Rome were often seen as personal. But Mr Brown will be anxious for his trip to be seen as an important visit highlighting the threats that the world faces from the recession.

While he was Chancellor Mr Brown met Pope Benedict to talk about medical aid to the developing world. During the meeting Mr Brown gave the Pope a book of sermons written by his father who was a Church of Scotland minister.

Mr Brown has a close relationship with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the senior Roman Catholic priest in England and Wales. Over Christmas last year he defended Mr Brown from criticism by Anglican bishops who had accused Labour of being "morally corrupt" and "beguiled by money". Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor also interviewed the Prime Minister when he guest-edited BBC Radio's Today Programme.

However, Mr Brown has had to face down a rebellion from Catholic Labour MPs and ministers during his time as Prime Minister. Many objected to the Government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which will see hybrid embryos used for medical research. Several Cabinet ministers raised concerns over the Bill, including Des Browne, the then Defence Secretary, Paul Murphy, the Welsh Secretary and Ruth Kelly, the then Transport Secretary. Miss Kelly, a member Catholic group Opus Dei, resigned from the Cabinet in September citing personal reasons.

The Pope's decision to pardon a British bishop who denies the Holocaust was recently criticised by a Government minister. Sadiq Khan, a junior Communities Minister, said that he found the move to lift the excommunication of Richard Williamson "highly unsavoury" and of "great concern".