Pope Francis and Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland (Vatican Media)
By Vatican News
Oct 20 2023
According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis has held a private audience with Michael Higgins, the President of Ireland, spending around 25 minutes in conversation.
Ireland’s President Michael Higgins was received by Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace on Thursday, 19 October.
Following the private audience, President Higgins met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
A statement released by the Holy See Press Office said, “During the cordial discussions in the Secretariat of State, satisfaction was expressed at the good relations between Ireland and the Holy See, and mention was made of some issues of common interest.”
It added that “attention then turned to some matters of a global nature, such as food security in developing countries and commitment to the elimination of poverty, the protection of the environment in the light of the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum, the phenomenon of migration in the delicate current world geopolitical situation, and the development of a multilateralism that might respond adequately to the current international conjuncture.”
Exchange of gifts
Pope Francis’ gift for the Irish President consisted of a bronze sculpture dedicated to migrants and a copy of the Pope’s Message for the 2023 World Peace Day, the Document on Human Fraternity signed by himself and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Abu Dhabi, the book on the Statio Orbis of 27 March 2020.
On his part, the President gave the Pope a bronze statue, also dedicated to migrants, created by the well-known Irish sculptor, John Behan. – Vatican News
