Romney and O'Malley offer somewhat different
descriptions of their relationship and how the governor decided to come
to Rome. Romney, through his spokesman, describes the archbishop as a
friend and says the archbishop invited him to Rome; O'Malley, in an
interview, described the governor as an acquaintance and says he
invited no one to Rome other than his relatives.
''I've met him a couple of times -- don't know him
well -- but he's always been very gracious," O'Malley said. ''I think
that it's an honor for the church that the governor would be a part of
this."