Cardinal Desmond Connell is to attend a State reception in his honour hosted by the Taoiseach and his partner, Ms Celia Larkin. The event will be at the State Apartments in Dublin Castle on Monday evening.
A spokesman for the Dublin archdiocese said Mr Ahern had told Cardinal Connell in Rome last February that such a reception for him would be hosted by "the Government and Cabinet".
The invitation to the State reception, in Irish and English, is issued on behalf of "The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern TD and Ms Celia Larkin".
A Government spokesman said events such as Monday's State reception were "almost universal when anyone reaches that rank. It's an international thing, not just here".
On March 29th last Dublin City Council held a reception for the cardinal in City Hall.
Ms Larkin did not attend with the Taoiseach at Dr Connell's elevation to the College of Cardinals in St Peter's Square at the Vatican last February, or at the receptions in Rome afterwards in the Irish College and the Irish Ambassador's residence.
The Catholic Church does not allow its members in second relationships to receive Communion. When Cardinal Connell was asked in 1997 why this did not apply to the Taoiseach, who is a regular communicant, he would not comment.
Asked about the church silence on the matter, one senior church figure said: "We do not know the nature of their relationship". The church does not comment on individuals but on situations, another church source has said.
