Taoiseach to visit the Holy See to meet Pope Leo XIV
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in The Vatican today (Friday, May 22) for a Private Audience with Pope Leo XIV. The Taoiseach will also have a bilateral meeting with Holy See Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.
Following his visit to The Vatican, the Taoiseach will visit the Pontifical Irish College in Rome to meet with members of the college community and view its archives, where he will announce Government funding to support the cataloguing, digitisation and preservation of the archive as part of the College’s conservation, accessibility, and public outreach project.
Ahead of his visit to the Vatican, the Taoiseach said:
“I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV, who has made peace a defining theme of his papacy. In our discussions, I expect that we will reflect on how Leaders can act together to end conflict in the world, including in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, and how we can reassert the primacy of human dignity, human rights and a rules-based international order in an increasingly dangerous and divided world.
“In the first year of his Pontificate, Pope Leo has been a steadfast advocate for human dignity, for the poor and marginalised, for a humanitarian approach, for social justice and the environment, and for peace. We share many common values - a belief in the importance of a rules-based international order, and dialogue and diplomacy as the only route to lasting 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.
“We know from our own experience on this island the challenge of finding lasting peace and how this crucial work continues. The role of the church and clergy from all denominations was critical to bringing about peace on this island and I will discuss with the Pope the ongoing process of reconciliation, including the difficult but essential work on addressing the legacy of the Troubles.
“I will also share our plans for Ireland’s forthcoming Presidency of the EU and the importance of the role of the EU as for force for peace, democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
“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.
I also look forward to visiting the Pontifical Irish College to meet with the community there. I will announce Government support for the preservation and digitisation of the College’s invaluable archive, which contains records of great national and historical interest. It is important that the archive remains accessible for this and future generations.”