Irish Premier Micheál Martin has held a private audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where discussions focused on global conflicts, diplomacy, and Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the EU Council. The visit also highlighted bilateral relations between Ireland and the Holy See ahead of a series of meetings with senior Vatican and Italian officials.
Martin and his wife Mary were greeted in the San Damaso Courtyard on May 22 morning by the Prefect of the Papal Household, Petar Rajic, and the papal gentlemen, dpa reports.
The meeting between the Taoiseach and the Pope was expected to last up to 35 minutes.
Ahead of the visit, Martin said he expected to discuss Ireland’s peace process and Ireland taking up the presidency of the EU Council.
He also said they would engage on how leaders “can act together to end conflict in the world”, including in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan.
He described the Pope as “a steadfast advocate for human dignity, for the poor and marginalised,” adding that they shared “many common values,” including a belief in the rule of law and diplomacy as a means of achieving peace.
“I look forward to exchanging views with him on how we can work together to promote effective multilateralism as the best way to address our many challenges and bring an end to conflict,” Martin said ahead of the meeting.
“As we look ahead to the centenary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Holy See, this meeting is also an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with the Church as a country in all its facets, including the deep pain and trauma of the survivors of clerical abuse and their needs.”
As part of the visit, the Taoiseach will also hold a bilateral meeting with Holy See Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
He will later visit the Pontifical Irish College in Rome to meet members of the college community and view its archives. During the visit, Martin is expected to announce government funding to support the cataloguing, digitisation and preservation of the archive as part of a wider conservation, accessibility, and public outreach project.
Later on May 22, Martin is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with discussions expected to focus on preparations for Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the EU Council from July.
By Vafa Guliyeva
