President Traian Basescu had a phone conversation with the Romanian Orthodox Patriarch, Daniel. informing him about his intention to invite pope Benedict XVI in an official visit to Bucharest, in 2009. Traian Basescu will make an official visit to the Vatican between September 5 and 7.

Patriarch Daniel sent a message to pope Benedict, thanking him for the appeal in favor of the Romanian community in Italy, which was unjustly attacked on several occasions by the Italian media.