Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi discussed relations between the Catholic Church and Italy Saturday, amid accusations that the church interferes in the country's domestic affairs.
The meeting of slightly more than 30 minutes in the pope's library was Berlusconi's first official visit at the Vatican since Benedict became pope in April.
The Italian Catholic Church has spoken out in recent months on assisted fertility and legal rights for unmarried couples, among other issues. This week, Italian bishops expressed skepticism over a constitutional reform giving regions and the premier more power, pushed by Berlusconi's government and passed last week in parliament.
"During the cordial talks, there has been an exchange of opinions over bilateral problems between the state and the Church in Italy," the Vatican's deputy spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, said in a statement. "The common will of cooperation between the parties, in the tracks of the Lateran Treaty, has been reaffirmed."
The 1929 Lateran Treaty established Vatican City as an independent city-state within Rome. An update of the pact, in 1984, saw the end of Roman Catholicism as Italy's state religion.
The statement also said Benedict and Berlusconi discussed international affairs.
The pope acknowledged the secular nature of the Italian state during a June visit with the Italian president, but he also made clear that the Catholic Church would not stop intervening in ethical matters or issues that dealt with man's "eternal destiny."
Earlier this year, the pope endorsed the Italian Catholic bishops' efforts to restrict assisted fertility treatments. The bishops had urged Italians to boycott a national referendum on easing assisted fertility restrictions - a campaign that proved successful.
The Church rejects the accusation of interference, maintaining it has a duty to express an opinion on moral issues.
More than 90 percent of Italy's 58 million citizens are, at least nominally, Catholic. Berlusconi's conservative coalition includes parties traditionally close to the Vatican, such as the right-wing National Alliance and a small Christian Democratic party.
Berlusconi attended a Mass celebrated at the Vatican by Benedict in late April - days after Benedict's election - and greeted the new pontiff afterward.